Deuteronomy 4:21, commentary and pictures

The Lord was angry with Moses on account of Israel and bound Himself by oath that he would not cross the Jordan into the good land given to Israel as an inheritance, so he died east of the Jordan while Israel went over to possess it. His exclusion was for disobedience at the waters of Meribah, where he was told to speak to the rock but struck it in anger and unbelief, failing to honor God before the people. Worn by their constant murmuring and complaints, he lost self-control and spoke irritably, putting himself and Aaron forward as if they would bring the water. The sentence was severe because one in responsible place teaches others by example, so God contended with even His faithfully serving leader to show He is impartial and will not pass over sin. The warning stands within the call given from Sinai to remember the covenant, shun idolatry, and keep His statutes exactly, for obedience prolongs life in the land God gives while disobedience shuts out from it.

Moses Barred from Canaan

The Lord was angry with Moses for Israel's sakes and swore that he should not go over Jordan into the good land which the Lord gave Israel for an inheritance. Moses would die east of the Jordan outside the land, while Israel would cross over and possess it as its inheritance. His exclusion followed his failure to honor God at the waters of Meribah.

That failure was disobedience to a direct command, for God told him to speak to the rock and he instead struck it angrily. In doing so he dishonored God before Israel and showed lack of faith. Provoked by the people's constant complaints, disappointments, sufferings charged to him, and murmuring, he lost self-control. His irritation showed itself in words and spirit, and he spoke with irritation as though he and Aaron themselves would bring water from the rock, bringing himself and Aaron into prominence.

His sentence came at the time when rebellious Israel was also condemned to die before crossing the Jordan. Of the adults who left Egypt only two entered Canaan while the rest died in the wilderness, and Moses himself must die without ever with his natural human sight looking upon the land of Canaan. This revealed that he was a man subject to like passions as the children of Israel.

The offense was great because a man in responsible position sets a wrong example that leads others to think they have a right to be provoked and to make excuses. God was greatly grieved and had to rebuke him and contend with him to give the correct impression of impartiality and to show that He will not tolerate or pass over the sins of those He has signally honored. Though Moses had patiently prevailed with God time and again to save Israel from the just consequence of their sins and had suffered much and faithfully served and pleaded to enter the land, God refused, lest His word should seem unimportant.

Covenant Call to Holiness

The verse stands in God's bringing Israel out of the iron furnace of Egypt to be to Him a people of inheritance. It belongs to Moses' reminder of Sinai, where God spoke from the fire and gave the Ten Commandments. That same voice spoke also from the pillar of cloud, giving sacred truth in plain directions telling what to do and what not to do.

It carries the charge to take heed lest Israel forget God's covenant. They were not to make a graven image or likeness of anything forbidden and were not to worship it. For the Lord is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Keeping His statutes and commandments is the condition for its going well with Israel and with their children after them and for prolonging their days upon the earth God gives them forever. Disobedience brings exclusion from Canaan, and Moses himself barred from going over Jordan into the good land for Israel's sake stands as part of God's verified word to that effect. Together with the rest of the chapter it proves that the people disobeyed, so that of the adults who left Egypt only two entered Canaan while the rest died in the wilderness.

Call to Exact Obedience

Moses' exclusion teaches that God's commands must not be departed from even in spirit or word, for his barring from crossing the Jordan into the good land given as an inheritance was tied to his disobedience at Meribah where he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded, thereby dishonoring God and showing lack of faith. God requires exact obedience, so that even a serious leader's disobedience has consequences, for Moses spoke as though he and Aaron themselves would provide the water, and though he had faithfully served and pleaded to enter, God refused lest His word seem unimportant. The verse belongs to Moses' instruction to study God's requirements in order to be a holy people. It stands as a lesson in heeding the Lord's charge and obeying all His commandments according to His directions, since neglecting the Word risks rebellion.

The whole chapter including this verse is to be studied today as a warning that the Lord will vindicate His word if leaders depart from His commandments. God's verified word proves itself in that disobedience brings exclusion from Canaan, with Moses himself barred from going over Jordan for Israel's sake and with only two of the adults who left Egypt entering Canaan while the rest died in the wilderness, holding out that keeping His statutes and commandments brings well-being and prolonged days in the land He gives. God's word is upheld, God will not be trifled with, and all who depart from His word in action misrepresent His character.

Its specifications never lose their force because they are expressions of the mind of the infinite God, given as sacred truth in plain directions from the voice of God from the pillar of cloud telling what to do and what not to do. Every word is to be cherished and preached and to be acted out in principle in all religious service toward God and toward one another, for they are the principles of His law. They require Christian gentlemanliness, loving as brethren, doing no injustice, and always showing liberality, tenderness, compassion, and true courtesy, with God to be represented by His people through correct principles in everything. The requirement of exact obedience applies to keeping the seventh-day Sabbath rather than choosing another day for convenience.