The Song of Moses
The reading for this first week of the new year comes from one of the final chapters of Torah. In Deuteronomy 32, we find Moses in his final days with Israel. The nation is about to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land with Joshua at their head rather than Moses. Moses will soon climb a mountain and die in the presence of God, but before he departs, the Lord gives His friend a prophetic song to sing over Israel - a song which Israel is called to sing and remember throughout the ages. This is not the song of victory one might expect on such a joyous occasion. Rather, it is a poem which recounts Israel’s calling, foretells her idolatry, spells out her inevitable judgments, and promises her final restoration. As Diane pointed out in her comment, it is anthem of God’s tender affections for Israel, but it is also a lament over the future God sees for His beloved people.
“The Lord’s portion is His people, Jacob His allotted heritage.”
This is the affirmation which opens the song. The Lord’s choice is a present tense reality, age after age. The Lord’s inheritance - which is a wild concept in itself - is Israel! And yet, God knows His people will turn from Him. They will break His heart. Thus He intends to pursue them with affliction. He will send nations to conquer them. He will make them jealous with “those who are no people.” He will fight against their idols until there is no one left to rescue them except for Himself. When they turn, God will call His people back and heal their wounds.
What are we Gentile Christians to make of this song? Should we shudder and give thanks that the foretold judgments were not intended for us? Should we gloss over the intensity of God’s jealousy, relegating an angry God to the Old Testament? Should we conclude, along with the majority of our Christian ancestors, that God finally unbound Himself from the Jewish people and established a new inheritance in the Church? Adopting any of these interpretations, I believe, hinders our relationship with the Father. It limits the understanding of the mystery of salvation into which we are called. It dampens the fullness of joy which awaits us and our God. Here are three reasons I think that is true.
1) The mystery of Gentile salvation is an adoption, or a grafting, into the salvation of Israel. (See Romans 11) Quoting Jesus again (John 4), “Salvation is from the Jews.” According to the promise given to Abraham, a Jewish Savior has come into the world. His salvation extends to all the earth. We Christians who once were not a people have been adopted into God’s people. We who had no covenant with the living God now have a covenant through the blood of Jesus. We Christians now walk in the favor and authority of the God of Israel, provoking Israel to jealousy, just as the song of Moses foretold. “They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; They have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation.” - Deut. 32:21
As Christians we both receive salvation from the Jews, and also spur the Jewish people to repentance and the knowledge of their Messiah. This mystery is somewhat like the mystery of man and woman. Each is dependent upon the other for life. It was Israel’s choosing which paved the way for Gentiles to be saved. It is the faith of Gentiles which will, in the end, lead Jews back to their Messiah.
2) Another way to understand our adoption as Gentiles into the tree of Israel is that in sharing her roots, we have come to share in her history. The Gentile branch grafted into the olive tree of Israel has now become old and gnarled, just like the original branch. We Christians can identify with Israel’s sin because we have also wandered from the Lord.. Christian history is full of shame. I am not speaking here primarily of individuals, but of the cultures and nations which have chosen to bear the name of Christ. Of course, every age has been blessed with the witness of great saints. And the Church has maintained a faithful witness in her teaching. But the same can be said of Israel. Israel also had prophets. They had priests who carried out sacrifices and ensured the Law was preserved. And yet, most of the people grew cold in their love for the Lord.
In the West, fewer and fewer people are attending church. There is no doubt that American society feels less Christian than ever. But it is important to remember that both world wars were started by “Christian” nations. Christians were responsible for the dark history of enslaving African people for economic gain. Christians were responsible for slaughters in the Crusades, including the slaughter and looting of fellow Christians. How can we expect to escape the righteous judgments of Israel’s God if we, as His people, have also sinned so grievously?
3) Finally, we Christians, like Israel, have received an inheritance beyond imagination. We have been called to commune with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for all eternity1 We have become the recipients of God’s love and mercy, and the only appropriate response is to love God in return. We know that to love someone means to rejoice in the other’s joy and weep with the other’s pain. We also know that the Father will not be satisified until His table is filled with children from every tribe, nation and tongue. Thus, in our love for the Father, we proclaim the good news of His Son. Jesus’ hope becomes our hope. His joy becomes our own. And we know His joy will be complete when Jacob returns and take his proper seat at the head of the banqueting table.
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And render vengeance to His adversaries;
He will provide atonement for His land and His people.” - Deut. 32:43