Moses’ Charge to the People

Deuteronomy 30:15; 31:3

OBEDIENCE to divine law has always been, and will continue to be, the condition upon which God’s intelligent creatures, created in his image, may expect to enjoy his abiding favor and blessing. God is patient and long-suffering toward those who lack full faith and fail to render perfect obedience, but the faithless and disobedient must ultimately suffer the loss of divine favor and pay the wages of sin, which is death. The final judgment of worthiness or unworthiness of everlasting life is rendered by God toward some (particularly the church class of this age) in this life, while others will be given a further opportunity during the thousand-year judgment day of the future.

Moses’ charge to the Israelites had more particularly to do with their experiences in this life, although many scriptures show that their final judgment as individuals is still future. They had entered into a covenant with the Lord, based upon the Law given to them at Mount Sinai. Upon conditions of obedience God promised them life, material prosperity in the Promised Land, and also that they would be his priestly or teacher nation in the earth. Much was involved, therefore, in their being obedient to the Law; and in his charge, Moses endeavored to bring this forcibly to their attention.

“I have set before you life and death,” said Moses to the Israelites. The Apostle Paul explains that the Law “was ordained to life,” but because the Israelites failed to obey its precepts they found it to be “unto death.” (Rom. 7:10) Paul further explains that no matter how zealously one might try to keep that Law, he would fail. This, of course, was because no member of the fallen and dying race was capable of keeping God’s perfect Law. No Israelite, therefore, could actually have gained everlasting life under the terms of the Law Covenant, although God gave them the opportunity to try. It was through their failure that sincere ones among them, like the Apostle Paul, were helped to realize the need of the atoning blood of Christ. Thus the Law served as a schoolmaster, to bring them to Christ.

For the nation of Israel under the Law there was also the reward, conditional upon faithfulness, of being permitted to abide prosperously in the Promised Land. Even though they could not keep the Law perfectly and thus gain everlasting life, it is reasonable to conclude that had they done the very best they could, they would have been permitted to remain in the land. But, as biblical history clearly shows, Israel was time and time again a backsliding nation, and prone to worship other gods; so they were not permitted to enjoy the blessings of the land as they might have.

As for being God’s royal, or kingdom nation, that privilege was lost when they failed to meet the final test which came upon them at the time of the first advent of Christ. Their Messiah came to them, but they rejected him, and in the face of their plotting to kill him, he said unto them, “Your house is left unto you desolate.” (Matt. 23:28) Thus it was that Israel did not obtain “that which he seeketh for.”—Rom. 11:7

In principle, Moses’ charge to the Israelites could well apply to all who at any time, either now or in the age to come, may strive to attain everlasting life. No other conditions will ever be laid down by the Lord than those of obedience to his law. In this age, upon the basis of faith in the atoning blood of Christ, allowance is made for sins and weaknesses resulting from Adam’s disobedience, and these imperfections are not imputed to us. Nevertheless, even now the heart must be fully loyal to the Lord and to his will, and nothing short of one’s very best endeavors will be accepted as proof of our worthiness of life.

In the next age, also, allowance will be made for inherited imperfections, and help will be given to overcome them. Perfect human life will be the reward for obedience then held out to the faithful, and those who make sincere efforts to obey will gradually be restored to perfection, enabling them ultimately to render full and perfect obedience. Their progress toward perfection is represented by the Prophet Isaiah as a walking over “the way of holiness”; that is, the way which leads to holiness, or perfection.—Isaiah 35:8

Life for the obedient and death for the disobedient is always the antithesis set forth in the Word of God—never heaven and hell. It is a foundationless argument which is put forth by some when they say that if there is a heaven there must be a hell—meaning a place of eternal torture. No such thought is to be found anywhere in the Bible. There is, indeed, a heavenly hope for the faithful of this age. Those who, by faith and obedience, now prove worthy of life, will be rewarded with a heavenly home—with glory, honor, and immortality, the divine nature. Those who prove worthy of life during the next age will be restored to perfection as human beings.

Deuteronomy 33:27-29

THIS passage is one of the most comforting assurances to God’s people to be found anywhere in the Bible. It was made to natural Israel, but it is true of all those whom the Lord calls to be his people in any age. He is our “refuge” and strength today, and we can rest secure in his “everlasting arms.”

To natural Israel this promise of divine care meant that they would be victorious in thrusting out their enemies from the land of Canaan, and that the Lord would give them peace and quietness in their new home—if they would be obedient to him. To us it also means strength to overcome; and in proportion to our faith we can have peace of heart and mind—that “great peace” which belongs to all those who love God’s law.

QUESTIONS

Is it possible for anyone to secure everlasting life by any other means than through obedience to the divine will?

What three blessings were promised to Israel and made conditional upon obedience to divine law?

In what way is allowance made in this age for adamic weaknesses?

In the next age, how will imperfections due to inherited sins be dealt with?

Is there any scriptural authority for the statement, “If there is a heaven, there must be a hell”?

Can we of this Gospel age claim the promise made to Israel of God’s care and protection?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |