Before you disagree with the title, you tell me the main theme of Moses’ birthday song.
Moses is 120—a supercentenarian! Forty years he spent being exalted in the palace in Egypt. Forty years he spent being humbled sheep herding in the desert. And forty years he spent exalting the Lord in the eyes not only of Israel but of all who read his writings in God’s Word. Only one time he didn’t do that, and it was very costly. Let’s set the stage for this birthday song. If Moses is going to be kept from his life’s dream—crossing into Canaan with God’s people—he will still go out singing God’s praises and blessing God’s people. What a way to go! May every senior saint follow that example. Why was Moses not allowed to enter? Two reasons are mentioned: “because you trespassed against Me…at the waters of Meribah…because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel” (Deut 32:51). God commanded him to speak to the rock (Num 20:8), not as before when it was struck with his rod. But Moses “spoke rashly with his lips” (Ps 106:33): “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Num 20:10). We, Moses? Thus he didn’t honor the Lord before the people; and more, he spoiled a picture of Christ, the Rock who only had to be smitten ONCE. Now we just speak to Him to receive blessing! But here’s the amazing thing. What is Moses’ theme? The Rock! “Ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect” (Deut 32:3-4). “But Jeshurun [Israel]…forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation” (v 15; also v 18). “How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had surrendered them? For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges” (vv 30-31). There’s Rock-solid faith for you!