Day 71 - Deuteronomy 3-4

From chapter 1 through 3, Moses says at least three times “because of you the Lord became angry with me”. I understand his thought process. The reference is to the instance at Meribah when Moses and Aaron struck the rock to bring forth water. Aaron died just after this and Moses was told he too would die before entering Canaan because their sin. It was the griping of the Israelites which upset Moses and caused him to strike the rock in anger instead of speaking to it. So, he feels it was their fault that God became angry with him. But I see still in Moses’ heart an arrogance, bitterness and unwillingness to forgive. He refuses to accept the blame for his part in the matter. Even now he refuses to see, or to admit, that his attitude was wrong. And he takes no blame for the words he spoke that day, taking credit for he and Aaron from providing water rather than giving the glory to God. There is a lesson for each of us in this. Moses is a good character lesson for accountability, humility, and forgiveness. There are consequences for our sins. But Moses never seemed repentant, not even in his last days, and so when he pleaded to enter Canaan, God was not tolerant – “that is enough!”