Congregation Beth Ha'Mashiach
(House of the Messiah) - Worshipping ADONAI
& His Messiah, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach
Living & teaching as our
Messiah taught us to Live
Messianic
Congregation serving Northeast Atlanta Georgia (Gwinnett, Barrow, Dekalb,
Rockdale, Walton)
Phone 770
554-2867 - email:
rabbi@cbhm.org
Messianic Congregation located
in Metro Atlanta serving Snellville, Lawrenceville, Loganville, Georgia
Ask the Rabbi -
Why did G-D prohibit Moses from entering the Land?
Why did G-D prohibit Moses from entering the Land?
Having just finished my final Yeshiva exams, I wanted to share one essay
that struck me as being very appropriate.
Why did G-D prohibit Moses from entering the Land of Isra'el?
When the Children of Isra'el demand water, G-D instructs Moshe to speak
to the rock. In his anger, Moshe struck the rock, twice. Based on
earlier Rabbinic commentary, Dr. Jacob Milgrom suggests that the sin is
not the striking, but the statement, "Shall we get water for you out of
this rock?" Thus the sin was tied to his implying he and Aaron, not G-D,
were responsible for the miracle. Rabbi Kula suggests that it was the
incident with the ten spies that caused Moshe to not be allowed to
enter. This is due to G-D declaring only Caleb & Joshua would enter,
excluding even Moshe.
Both explanations above have merit. There is a third explanation
postulated by some Messianics and Christians. This explanation bases
G-D's anger on the first striking of the rock being a shadow of
Messiah's first incarnation, and speaking to the rock was to have been a
shadow of His return as King of Kings. Thus, Moshe was punished so
severely due, not only to his disobedience but, to it's ramifications
for the future prophetic significance.
As to which explanation is correct, it is unwise to be dogmatic. One or
a combination of all may be correct. What is clear is that, due to
either his own disobedience, or the disobedience of Isra'el, or both,
Moshe was not allowed into the Promised Land. There is an additional
thought that might be worth consideration. Is it possible that G-D, in
His wisdom, decided Moshe entering the land would not be wise? It is
believed G-D hid the spot of Moshe's burial to prevent the Israelis from
making it a place of worship. Could this be part of the reason G-D chose
to not allow Moshe into the Land? Could G-D have prevented Moshe from
entering the Land because the people would turn Moshe into a "god", or
lose site of the One True G-D?