Middle School Option

HOPE FOR Deuteronomy 13EACH DAY 32:48-52; 34:4-7 EXPLORATION Deuteronomy 32:48-52; 34:4-7

32:48 On that same day the Lord spoke to Moses, 49 “Go up Mount Nebo in the Abarim range in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan I am giving the Central Israelites as a possession. 50 Then you will die on the TRUTH mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 For both of you broke faith with G o d’s pr o m is e s me among the Israelites at the Waters of Meribath-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin by failing to treat me as holy in and presence their presence. 52 Although from a distance you will view give us the the land that I am giving the Israelites, you will not go hope we need t here.” to face any 34:4 The Lord then said to him, “This is the land I situation. promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.”

5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the Lord’s w or d. 6 He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him. Prepare for your group meeting by reading the passage two times.

124 // Explore the Bible: Students Talk it Out Explore .01 WHAT IS THE SCARIEST THING OPTIONS YOU HAVE EVER DONE? WHAT MADE IT SO SCARY? .01 Wishful Thinking

.02 HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO GET Divide students into small groups and explain THROUGH THAT SITUATION? that each group has three wishes that they must choose together (and no, they cannot wish for more wishes). Give groups time to decide on what their wishes would be. Ask groups to share the wishes they decided on and then discuss these questions together. How much of your wishes were centered around material things rather than spiritual things? Were your wishes selfish or This week’s others-centered? Is there a difference between a wish and hope? Explain that hope is much better FOCUS than a wish because a wish is just a thought. Hope, however, is always centered on a person. Our hope as believers is in God and we can have that hope Perhaps you’ve been bungee jumping because of God’s character. Today we’ll look at how or gone on a tall zipline, or maybe God’s promises and presence give us the hope we the scariest thing you’ve ever done need to face any situation. was learning to ski. Or maybe it was something that’s frightening on a more .02 Who’s There? personal level, like standing up to a bully, telling someone you like you how feel, Search online for cheesy knock-knock jokes. Here’s or confronting a friend you’re concerned an example: “Knock knock. Who’s there? Cow about. Even if you haven’t faced these says. Cow says who? No, a cow says moooooo.” Or kinds of situations or challenges yet, another example: “Knock knock. Who’s there?” you likely will. Since we live in a broken Spell. Spell who? Okay, okay: W.H.O.” Share several world, life is full of situations and knock-knock jokes with your students and ask challenges that frighten us. There are them to share some that they know. You might few things more frightening than the consider even giving a small prize for the cheesiest reality of death. This is the reality Moses knock-knock joke. Knock-knock jokes are definitely is facing in the passages we are studying cheesy but they are known for always containing today. As we see Moses approach death a key phrase: “Who’s there?” This phrase makes in Deuteronomy, we will see that God’s us think of someone being at the door, waiting to promises and presence give us the hope come in. We serve a God who is always there. He we need to face any situation. is always present. No matter what we face, God is ready to help us face it with His help. Today we’ll discover how God’s promises and presence give us the hope we need to face any situation.

Session 13 // 125 CONVERSATION

13Read Deuteronomy 32:48-52 and 34:4. .03 WHAT DID GOD COMMAND MOSES TO DO? HOW DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO SUCH A COMMAND?

.04 WHY DID GOD INFORM MOSES THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE SOON? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?

Having just written a song of praise to God (Deut. 32:1-43), recited it to the people of Israel (Deut. 32:44), and challenged the Israelites to faithfully keep the law (Deut. 32:46-47), Moses was now commanded by God to climb Mount Nebo where he would die. God would allow Moses to see the promised land but not to enter it. God also informed Moses that he would die on Mount Nebo. In other words, God told Moses to go to the place where he would die. We would all like to think that we would go anywhere God commanded, but when it means death, that’s easier said than done. Moses was able to obey this command, in part, because he knew God was with him. God’s presence can empower us to face any situation. How do you think you would respond to knowing you were about to die? What would you want to do or see before you died? For Moses, it was the promised land. He wanted to see the good land that God had promised to establish the Israelites in.

.05 WHY WASN’T MOSES ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PROMISED LAND? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?

Ironically, immediately after challenging the Israelites to diligently and faithfully obey all of God’s law (v. 46), God reminded Moses of his own past sin which would keep him from entering the promised land (see Num. 20:1-13). When the Israelites were without water in the Wilderness of Zin, they went to Moses and Aaron and basically said that they wished they were back in Egypt. Despite the Israelites’ sinful attitudes, God intended to save them yet again by providing water for them. God instructed Moses to speak to a rock which would pour forth water. In his anger, Moses struck the rock with his staff rather than speaking to it.

Theological Context: For more on what it means to “fail to treat God as holy,” see the Theological Context note in the Commentary.

Leader Pack / ITEM 5: Review Deuteronomy 31:6 and remind students how God’s presence with us, His children, empowers us with the strength we need to face all kinds of situations, even difficulty and suffering.

126 // Explore the Bible: Students COMMENTARY

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 48-49. After Moses left Israel with a song of remembrance, teaching them what happens when people leave God out of their lives, God directed Moses to ascend a mountain once again. Mount Nebo, one of the highest peaks of the ten-mile Abarim range in the land of Moab, is located at the northeastern end of the Dead Sea, just east of Jericho. Instead of meeting with God on the mountain as he had done in the past, Moses would view the promised land.

In preparation for Moses’ death, God gave Moses the privilege of seeing the culmination of his forty- year journey as the leader of the Israelites by allowing him to peer into the land of Canaan. Promised to Abraham years earlier, God was on the brink of giving His people a land of their own.

50-52. Having just admonished the Israelites to obey God’s Word, Moses was reminded that he and Aaron broke faith with God. They had dishonored Him by their disobedience. At the waters of Meribath-Kadesh, tired of the people’s incessant complaining, Moses lashed out at the people by calling them rebels. He angrily struck the rock (Num. 20), ignoring God’s command that he speak to the rock. Moses and Aaron acted as if they produced the water. Their disobedience destroyed the picture that God wanted to be painted that day, robbing God of displaying His power through the spoken word. As the leaders of the covenant community, they treated God and His command with disrespect in front of the people. Even if Moses felt his anger was justified, or if it was a case of temporary lapse brought on by stress, what Moses did was inexcusable.

Because of their sin, neither Moses nor Aaron were allowed into the promised land. In His mercy, the Lord let Moses view the land from the mountaintop before his death. While God’s action may seem harsh, it’s a reminder that all sin is offensive to the Lord. Moreover, God reserves a stricter judgment for spiritual leaders (James 3:1).

Death reminds us of our sin. But God gave His Son as the payment for sin, making forgiveness and reconciliation with Him possible through Jesus Christ. Jesus and the salvation He offers is the reason we no longer need to fear death. By putting our trust in Jesus, we gain eternal life with Him.

THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT

Failure to treat God as holy (v. 51; see also Num. 20:12) was a failure to give proper consideration to who God is. In other words, whatever motivated him, Moses’ decision to strike the rock reflected a denial of the transcendent traits that make God different than us—His power and glory. If Moses had spoken to the rock, he would have demonstrated the power God creates through His spoken word (see Gen. 1). It seems by striking the rock, Moses implied a lack of faith that God could provide them water by His word alone.

Session 13 // 127 CONVERSATIONcontinued

.06 HOW DID MOSES FAIL TO TREAT GOD AS HOLY? WHEN ARE WE MOST TEMPTED 13TO FORGET THAT GOD IS HOLY—PERFECT, POWERFUL, ALL-KNOWING, AND SO ON?

Discipleship Moment: Can you think of a time when you failed to treat God as holy or a time when you drew attention to yourself rather than to God’s goodness, strength, or provision? Consider sharing an example with your students and what you learned from it.

.07 WHY DID GOD LET MOSES SEE THE PROMISED LAND BUT REFUSED TO LET HIM ENTER IT? WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT GOD?

While this might not seem like a big deal, apparently Moses’ sin was a failure to treat God as holy in the presence of the people (v. 51). It seems that Moses’ actions put the attention on him rather than on the Lord who is the true Hero of this and every story of the Bible. In this moment of weakness, it seems that Moses drew attention to himself rather than demonstrating to the people that God saves by the power of His Word. While our God is just in all that He does and would require Moses to face the consequences of his sin for striking the rock, God’s love still shines in this story. Despite his sin, Moses still got to see the promised land. God’s presence in his final hours and the promise that the Israelites would soon inherit the land was enough for Moses.

Read Deuteronomy 34:5-7.

.08 WHO BURIED MOSES (V. 6)? WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS?

Moses, the servant of the Lord, was not buried by Joshua, the Levites, or any other significant figure among the Israelites. Moses, it seems, was buried by God Himself. While this may seem strange, it fits with Moses’ unique relationship with God that is perhaps best demonstrated by the way Moses would speak to God “face to face” as a person “speaks to a friend” (Ex. 33:11). Moses was not only the leader of the Israelites, he was also their prophet who had long delivered God’s Word to His people. In addition, he was their mediator who had prayed to God on their behalf numerous times, pleading with God to forgive their sins (See Ex. 32:30-33; Num. 14:13-16; Deut. 9:13-14).

Leader Pack / ITEM 9: For more examples of times that Moses interceded for the Israelites, see the Complaints in Numbers poster.

128 // Explore the Bible: Students COMMENTARY

Deuteronomy 34:4-6 4. God reminded Moses eight times in Deuteronomy that he would die and not set foot in the promised land. (See Deut. 1:37; 3:23-29; 31:2,14,16,27-29; 32:48-52; 34:4.) In light of God’s announcement, God’s grace was still evident.

Mount Nebo provided a panorama of the entire land of Canaan. Although Moses wouldn’t personally lead the charge, God would still be faithful to the promise He made to the patriarchs of old and bring Israel into the new land. While the Lord previously refused Moses’ numerous requests to enter the promised land (Deut. 3:23-26), Moses did visit it centuries later, when he and Elijah met with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration as witnessed by Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17:1-3).

5-6. While Scripture could have accurately called Moses a prince of Egypt, a shepherd, a spokesperson, a miracle worker, a prophet, or a leader of Israel, it bestowed on him the highest privilege a child of God can receive—the servant of the LORD. Spending part of his ministry on the mountaintop alone with God, it is fitting that his final hours on earth would be with the Lord on Mount Nebo. Although he was disciplined for his previous sin, Moses’ death was not a tragic ending. He died as a man of faith and as an honored servant. Upon completion of his duties, the Lord called Moses home.

God gave Moses an additional honor. He buried Moses, demonstrating His love for the man who devoted forty years in the Lord’s service by leading the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land. Laying Moses to rest in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth-peor, God kept Moses’ burial place a secret, eliminating the temptation to turn it into a shrine, or even worse, a place of idol worship—something Moses would have despised and God would have judged.

In some aspects, Moses’ life foreshadowed the life Jesus lived. Both were born during a difficult time in Jewish history. Moses surrendered the riches of Egypt; Jesus willingly laid aside His glory. Moses maintained an attitude of meekness just as Jesus did. Both finished the work God gave them to do. Although Moses’ life wasn’t divine like that of the Son of God, his story serves as a reminder that all children of God should imitate Christ in every way.

Session 13 // 129 CONVERSATIONcontinued

.09 LOOK AT VERSE 7. WHY ARE WE GIVEN THESE DETAILS ABOUT MOSES WHEN 13HE DIED? WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS?

It may seem like a small thing to us, but knowing that Moses was very old (120), and that his vision and vitality had not left him, is no small thing. Death is likely not something your students give a lot of thought to, but it is something each of us must face. For many people death is filled with difficulty and suffering. In other words, God’s mercy and kindness toward Moses are once again on display here as He not only let Moses see the promised land, but He also let him die in peace, sparing him the suffering that so often accompanies death.

.10 WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM MOSES’ EXAMPLE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HAVE A CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (SEE 2 COR. 3:7-17)?

Literary Context: For more information on the significance of 2 Corinthians 3:4-17, see the Literary Context note in the Commentary.

If we are honest, the close personal relationship Moses enjoyed with God probably seems like something we will never have. Moses, after all, was appointed by God to lead His people out of slavery, was given God’s law, and was empowered by God’s Spirit to lead the Israelites, both politically and spiritually. Paul, however, points out in 1 Corinthians 3:7-17 that Moses’ strong, personal relationship with God points forward to someone who had an even stronger, even more personal relationship with God—Jesus Christ. Jesus, God in human flesh, demonstrates to us in the most profound way possible that our God desires to be near to us and longs to have a meaningful relationship with us. In fact, Paul says that the new covenant we have is greater than the covenant of stone (referring to the law given to Moses) and the relationship offered with God offered to us in Christ is even more profound than what Moses enjoyed. While it might not always feel like it, challenge your students to see that God is near to them and, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He has done everything necessary to give them confident access to Him.

130 // Explore the Bible: Students COMMENTARY

Deuteronomy 34:7 7. Dying at the age of 120 years old, Moses’ life is neatly divided into thirds. He spent forty years living in Egypt, forty years as a lowly shepherd in the wilderness, and forty years as the leader of Israel. The first two-thirds of his life were in preparation for the last third. Though he had grown older, he never lost a step—a sign that God was with him throughout his life. With the continued blessing of good eyesight and health, the term of his leadership was over. The people mourned for Moses for thirty days in recognition of the impact his ministry had on their lives (34:8).

The Book of Deuteronomy closes with a fitting tribute to Moses, mentioning four points of distinction: He was the greatest prophet in Israel’s history. “No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses” (v. 10a). Unlike other spokespersons for the Lord, Moses knew the Lord “face to face” (v. 10b). Through him, God did incredible “signs and wonders” in the sight of Pharaoh and his court while in Egypt (v. 11). By Moses’ hand, God repeatedly demonstrated His “mighty acts of power and terrifying deeds” in the sight of all Israel (v. 12).

LITERARY CONTEXT

In 2 Corinthians 3:7-17, Paul interprets the events of Exodus 32-34 (the giving of the law, the golden calf incident, and Moses’ plea for God to forgive the Israelites’ idolatry) in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In so doing, he contrasts the old covenant with the new. Paul calls the old covenant “the ministry that brought death.” This was not because the old covenant was bad, but because the Israelites failed to keep it. We now enjoy the “ministry of the Spirit” which brings life because it is rooted in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. According to Paul, this new covenant is more glorious because it offers us God’s righteousness and a close personal relationship with Him.

Moses was faithful in his walk with God, in his devotion to his people, and in his role as an intercessor, praying for God’s blessings on Israel and pleading with God to hold back His judgment on their rebelliousness. Because God previously explained that Moses couldn’t enter the promised land, imagine the pain Moses would have felt, remaining outside while the people ventured inside, or the pain the people would have endured by leaving Moses behind. The most merciful thing God could do was take Moses home with Him at the end of a long and fruitful life. Death is not some kind of less-than alternative; it is the door to the very best God offers because it means living eternally with Him.

Heaven awaits those who trust in the Lord. The struggles of this life will finally be over. The day is coming when God Himself “will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more” (Rev. 21:4). God’s grace and mercy are present every moment, including the very moment when believers breathe their last breaths.

Session 13 // 131 God’s promises and CENTRAL presence give us the hope we need to 13TRUTH face any situation. NOW WHAT?

.11 AS A GROUP, COMPILE A SHORT LIST OF SOME OF GOD’S PROMISES TO YOU.

.12 HOW DO THESE PROMISES GIVE YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE? HOPE IN THE PRESENT?

.13 HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TO KNOW THAT AN EVEN CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAN WHAT MOSES ENJOYED AWAITS YOU? HOW SHOULD THIS REALITY SHAPE HOW WE LIVE?

.14 HOW MIGHT YOU GROW TO LOVE GOD MORE? HOW CAN WE HELP ONE ANOTHER GROW IN OUR LOVE FOR GOD?

The Student Leader Pack is available for purchase on lifeway.com/ explorethebible. It includes valuable posters that are referenced throughout the Leader Guide, Family Connection guides that equip families to discuss the Bible together on-the-go, a Midweek expository verse-by-verse study of 1 John which complements this study, and PowerPoint templates with graphics from this quarter’s study to help prepare slides for teaching.

132 // Explore the Bible: Students Daily DEVOTIONS

Challenge your students to choose five days this week to set aside time to dig deeper into God’s Word in the devotions included in their Daily Discipleship Guides (item 005646504). These devotions are perforated so that your students can tear them out if you prefer to hold on to their Daily Discipleship Guides for them. A summary of their devotions is provided below so you can review what they will be studying on their own.

After delivering the law to Israel, Moses breaks out into song. Day One The majority of Deuteronomy 32 records Moses’ song of praise in response to God’s faithfulness and kindness. God provides DEUTERONOMY them the law as means of guiding them and helping them live in 32:1-9 covenant with Him. Challenge Here Moses remembers some of Israel’s past times of rebellion. TO LEADERS Day Two He describes them as times when Israel “forgot the God who gave birth to you.” To worship anyone or anything other than DEUTERONOMY God is to forget who God is. He is the one to whom we owe Memorize. 32:10-18 absolutely everything. D euterono my 32:4 Connect. Your students Here we see our God allowing His people to face difficulty and disaster as a result of their own sin. God’s ultimate design in have five days Day Three doing so was to draw them to repentance. In other words, His of devotional DEUTERONOMY ultimate purposes are redemptive. Through Christ, we can readings that 32:19-27 trust that our God is always working for our ultimate good follow the (Rom. 8:28). passages listed on this page. Keep up with these readings The song of Moses here establishes God’s absolute power, Day Four authority, and sovereignty. God is in control of all things, yourself and including life and death. The song ends by highlighting the follow up with DEUTERONOMY reality that God should be rejoiced in because He will overcome your students 32:28-43 His enemies and purify His people. each week to see how they are doing in completing In these verses, Moses recited the song he wrote to the their Daily people and again challenged the people of Israel to take God’s Day Five Word to heart and put it into practice in their daily lives. Devotions. DEUTERONOMY God then speaks to Moses, reminding him of his past sin in the Wilderness of Zin. Because of this, Moses would see the 32:44-52 promised land from afar but never enter it. Session 13 // 133