Deuteronomy 3:28

3:21-29 Moses encouraged Joshua, who was to succeed him. Thus the aged and experienced in the service of God, should do all they can to strengthen the hands of those who are young, and setting out in religion. Consider what God has done, what God has promised. If God be for us, who can be against us, so as to prevail? We reproach our Leader if we follow him trembling. Moses prayed, that, if it were God's will, he might go before Israel, over Jordan into Canaan. We should never allow any desires in our hearts, which we cannot in faith offer up to God by prayer. God's answer to this prayer had a mixture of mercy and judgment. God sees it good to deny many things we desire. He may accept our prayers, yet not grant us the very things we pray for. It God does not by his providence give us what we desire, yet if by his grace he makes us content without, it comes to much the same. Let it suffice thee to have God for thy Father, and heaven for thy portion, though thou hast not every thing thou wouldst have in the world. God promised Moses a sight of Canaan from the top of Pisgah. Though he should not have the possession of it, he should have the prospect of it. Even great believers, in this present state, see heaven but at a distance. God provided him a successor. It is a comfort to the friends of the church of Christ, to see God's work likely to be carried on by others, when they are silent in the dust.

But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him,.... Charge him to take the care of the children of Israel, to introduce them into the good land, and put them into the possession of it; encourage him against all fear of his and their enemies, and strengthen him with promises of the presence of God, and of his gracious help and assistance: for he shall go over before this people; over the river Jordan, at the head of them, as their leader and commander; a type of Christ, the leader and commander of his people, who as their King goes forth at the head of them, and will introduce them all into his Father's kingdom and glory: and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see; and no more; not enter into, but Joshua should; and having conquered it, should divide it by lot for an inheritance to them, and their children after them; a type of Christ, in whom and by whom the saints obtain an inheritance by lot, Ephesians 1:11.

Deuteronomy 3:28 . He shall go over — It was not Moses, but Joshua, or Jesus, that was to give the people rest, Hebrews 4:8 . It is a comfort to those who love mankind, when they are dying and going off, to see God’s work likely to be carried on by other hands when they are silent in the dust.

Charge Joshua; give him commission and authority, and a command to execute his trust, and conduct the people. Strengthen him with exhortations and promises, and assurances of my presence and help, and of good success. He shall go over: it was not Moses, but Joshua or Jesus, that was to give the people rest, Hebrews 4:8 .

The Lord was wroth with me for your sakes - Here, as in Deuteronomy 1:37 ; Deuteronomy 4:21 ; the sin of the people is stated to be the ground on which Moses' prayer is denied. In Deuteronomy 32:51 ; and in Numbers 27:14 ; the transgression of Moses and Aaron themselves is assigned as the cause of their punishment. The reason why one side of the transaction is put forward in this place, and the other elsewhere, is evident. Here Moses is addressing the people, and mentions the punishment of their leaders as a most impressive warning to them, whose principal fault it was. In Deuteronomy 32 and Numbers 27 , God is addressing Moses, and visits on him, as is fitting, not the sin of the people hut his own.

28 . But charge Joshua ] See notes introd. to this and the previous section. In P ( Numbers 27:15-21 ) the charge to Joshua precedes the arrangement with the two and a half tribes (Numbers 32), while in D it follows. No stress can be laid on this difference as D’s term at that time is vague. But see Dri. in loco. Cp. also Deuteronomy 31:1-8 .