February 15 - Deuteronomy 1-4:40

Moses bows out with a long speech.  For someone who said he couldn't speak in front of the people, he certainly preaches an awfully long sermon.  He's changed.  He's seen and heard and witnessed the power of God and now he can't help but speak.  He was afraid to speak before because he had nothing to say.  Now he has plenty to say.  Moses has become more than he'd imagined but not more than He'd imagined.  

Moses' speech reads pretty much like a presidential farewell address, recounting the happenings under his watch.  He begins his history at Sinai and the Lord's sending out the people to the border of the Promised Land.  the Lord sends them out, saying "You have stayed long enough at this mountain."  We love to stay in the high place with God.  But our purpose here on Earth is to venture out in the world and do battle.

The Israelites aren't the only ones with a covenant with God.  They are not to provoke the Edomites, the descendents of Esau because God had given them the land.  They are not to fight the Ammonites because they were the descendents of Lot.  We think we're the only ones, like Israel.  There are others the Lord looks on favorably.  Even though they are not one of us, they are one of His.

Of all the things Moses mentions in his farewell address, why is he so fascinated with the size of Og, king of Bashan's, bed (or sarcophagus)?  It's 13  feet long and six feet wide.  I guess it was king size.  Sorry, couldn't help myself.  Sort of funny that facts like this are committed to holy scripture.  Or is it just Moses showing through?  Is it his personal fascination with opulence or does Moses simply have a predilection for trivia?

Perhaps Moses is shining through again, later in this reading, in his explanation of the change of leadership -- "But because of you, the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me."  Wait, wait, wait -- He can't go in to the Promised Land because of them?  I thought he wasn't allowed to enter because he [Moses] struck the rock instead of talking to it.