“But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. “That’s enough! He declared. ‘Speak of it no more.’” ~ Deuteronomy 3:26
MOSES enjoyed close friendship with God more than anyone else in his time. He saw the mighty works of God, God defended him against his enemies and critics. In this verse Moses is about to learn that God is not manipulated by our closeness with Him! This is not just a case of God getting angry at his servant, this is a personal awakening for Moses who is about to cross the boundary of intimacy to familiarity! The privileges of Moses before God, must lead him to reverence not politics.
His request of letting him cross to the promised land is not only a simple request, it’s an assault to the attribute of God at the expense of his personal agenda. Frankly, I understand Moses after all the “sacrifices” he made and dealing with these stubborn people now he is paying the price of not being allowed to enter the Promised land? Again, the issue here is not petty, it is about a God who cannot be hostage by any of His servants! Untameable God!
When God says never, He is sparing us from something disastrous. That danger is not easily noticed and in fact can be labelled as trivial or harmless. It’s not about a vindictive God who is so protective of His image. It’s about a stubborn and naïve Moses who is showing signs of being discontented with God! If you are one of those given the privilege to talk to God this close, heart to heart and friend to friend, will you still wish Promise land? Intimacy with the Almighty erases all the lesser joys that the good life can offer. Moses the more you request entrance to the Promise land the more you are not going to be satisfied even if God allowed your entrance. Why? The mere fact that you are not content with the Giver of the blessing, what makes you think that these secondary things can make a difference!
Actually, God’s denial of Moses’ request is an act of grace, so that Moses will be spared from the subtle battle in times of success and abundance. Later Moses will remind the Israelites that after you have crossed into the land of promise and enjoyed this abundance, do not forget the Lord! Moses by now has come to his senses God is enough, his words for the young generation is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart”. If I were Moses and have the privilege of enjoying close friendship with God, will I still wish to enter the promised land? Most likely, I will still ask for the Promise land -- that’s the way I need to hear God say “never”.