February 20th

I would say that everyone’s underestimation of God is what leads them to the wilderness generation’s condemnation.  They complained that they had no meat when they were literally in a world that was full of them. After God’s promise with Noah, humans were given dominion to eat whatever animal they wanted.  To complain that there just simply was not enough was outrageous. God responded by sending them quails yet they still were not satisfied. They kept complaining to him and therefore, he condemned them to the wilderness.  As to Moses’ condemnation, God tells Moses he is dying because “you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites” (Deuteronomy 32).  He was trusted to uphold the covenant and potentially restore communion, but he failed God.

I think that they closed the Pentateuch in this manner to display that restoring communion with God is no easy task.  Moses received God’s commandments and his death symbolizes that it is up to everyone else to keep this covenant. It’s almost like God is giving them the key to enter the Promised Land, but they need to show they are capable of entering.  I don’t think that it is a let down, but it builds suspense on what is to come. Looking at the Bible as a literary piece can give you different perspectives, and I think this is a handoff to the next generation.

The closing passage of Deuteronomy shows how important it is for the Israelites to follow God.  In Joshua, they must completely have faith in him in order to get to the Promised Land. When they do so, they will be protected and blessed by God.  The text really means to discuss how unfaithful they are to God, yet they still have the capability to be faithful. The elect are just like other humans but they just make better choices than them.  Everyone has the capability to be in the elect, per say, it’s just a matter of choosing to do so or not.