Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 32:48-52.

“The LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying, “Go up to this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho, and look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the sons of Israel for a possession.  Then die on the mountain where you ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel.  For you shall see the land at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.”  Deuteronomy 32:48-52.

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At first, the words of the LORD to Moses may seem unnecessarily harsh.  But, there is a message for us today.  The LORD is perfectly just and demands perfection and punishes all sin.

Although the LORD performed miracles through Moses and used Moses to lead His people from Egypt through the wilderness to this point of entry into the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, and although the LORD only pointed out one time of Moses’ unfaithfulness, the LORD did not allow Moses to go into the land along with the other sons of Israel.  Thereby, the LORD showed His perfect justice.

Later, God showed His perfect justice by sending His precious only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die on the cross, because through His Father’s will, Christ took on Himself all the sins of God’s Elect.  If ever there was a time for God to refrain from justice, it was this time.  But, God showed His perfect justice by even sending Christ to the cross, because justice required punishment for all of the sins of His elect.  

“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

But, there is hope!

“For the Law was given through Moses;  grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  John 1:17. 

As the justice shown by the LORD was perfect, the grace shown by the LORD through Jesus Christ was perfect.

“So then as through one (Adam’s) transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one (Christ’s) act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.  The Law came in so that the transgression would increase;  but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:18-21.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21.