Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - MOSES-MICHAEL

 MOSES-MICHAEL

There are a number of instances in the Bible where information seems lacking or incomplete for what is really needed to get a full understanding of what Scripture is trying to convey to us. One example of this is in the Book of Jude where it is states that:

…Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, 

when he disputed about the body of Moses, 

dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, 

but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 

(1:9)

There are two interesting points to consider here. First, why was there a dispute over the body of Moses? Moses has been one of the most important and prominent figures in Jewish history. At about the age of 80, he was sent, albeit somewhat reluctantly, to enact God’s freeing of the Hebrew people from Egypt. He led them through the desert and was entrusted with the Law. He also, on many occasions, interceded with God on behalf of the people. He apparently made one simple but grievous error in that he was commanded to:

…Speak to the rock before their eves, and it will yield its water… 

(Numbers 20:8)

Instead, Moses…

…struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly…

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Arron, 

“Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, 

therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

(Numbers:11-12)

Thus,

Moses…died there in the land of Moab…and He buried him in a valley…

opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day.

(Deu 34:5-6) 

Apparently custom has it that it was Michael who buried Moses in the valley, but was it because of this one digression that the devil contended over his body? Or was it because Moses, in his earlier life, had killed an Egyptian official? When God states:

Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.

(Hebrews 10:17)

perhaps Satan is not so generous and remains prepared to bring up any past offences against us. And could this be one of the reasons some people have such a struggle in their last days or hours? Is Satan still contending for bodies today as he did for the body of Moses?

Secondly, Michael did not rebuke Satan directly even though he would be considered a brother. He left the rebuke to the Lord. It makes one wonder how people in our time tend to rebuke or rail against the devil. If the chief angel of the Lord refuses to confront Satan directly, perhaps we should always be sure that the Lord is in front of us.

Just one verse from one of the shortest books in the Bible.

And two points to really think about.