Originally posted: 08/15/2019
If you knew your days on earth were running out, what parting message would you leave your loved ones?
Moses had led them forty years, and in spite of their failures, he loved them. Moses knew their intent, but still he wanted their life to flourish. His final word to the children of Israel magnifies the Lord their God, Whose Work is Perfect; and if taken to heart, will affect everything about their future.
Consider Him Whose Work is Perfect
“For I proclaim the name of the Lord;
Ascribe greatness to our God!
4 “The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He,” (32:3-4 emphasis added).
And there it is really; what more need be said? His Work, every bit of His Work is Perfect.
- His Work in His redemption is Perfect.
- “Is not He your Father who has bought you?
He has made you and established you,” (32:6).
- “Is not He your Father who has bought you?
- His Work in His care for His people is Perfect.
- “For the Lord’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
10 “He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye,” (32:9-10, and through verse 14).
- “For the Lord’s portion is His people;
- His Work in His discipline is Perfect.
- “You neglected the Rock who begot you,
And forgot the God who gave you birth…
19 The Lord saw this, and spurned them
Because of the provocation of His sons and daughters.
20 Then He said, “I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end shall be…” (32:18-20, and through verse 27).
- “You neglected the Rock who begot you,
- His Work in His vengeance and retribution is Perfect.
- “Is it not laid up in store with Me,
Sealed up in My treasuries?
35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them,’” (32:34-35).
- “Is it not laid up in store with Me,
- His Work in His sovereign judgment is Perfect.
- “See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand,” (32:39).
- “See now that I, I am He,
- His Work in His atonement is Perfect.
- “Rejoice, O nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people,” (32:43).
- “Rejoice, O nations, with His people;
- His Work in His Word is Perfect.
- …Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. 47 For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land… (32:46-47).
How do we respond to Him Whose Work is Perfect?
Let us learn from Moses, the great prophet of God, in his final address to God’s chosen people.
“Ascribe greatness to our God!” (32:3).
Ascribe: (from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance): Ascribe 3051. יָהַב yāhaḇ, הַב haḇ: I. A verb indicating to give, to come; to pay attention… It indicates the handing over or turning over of something to someone.
We are to hand over, to give to God the attention due Him. He is great and His Work is Perfect.
His greatness is not subject to our opinions or thoughts. When we forget or doubt the absolute and total Perfection of His Work, we diminish His greatness at work in our own lives.
Moses instructed the children of Israel to remember and consider Him Whose Work is Perfect.
“Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of all generations,” (32:7).
It will be helpful to contemplate these two words of instruction, “Remember” and “Consider” in the original language.
Remember: “2142. זָכַר zāḵar, מַזְכִּיר mazkiyr: A verb meaning to remember, to mention, to recall, to think about, to think on, to be remembered, to recall, to acknowledge, to mention, to make known. The basic meaning indicates a process of mentioning or recalling either silently, verbally, or by means of a memorial sign or symbol,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
In the Hebrew, to remember is not merely a mental activity, but also involves speaking about and making it known. When we remember His Work, we can’t help but talk about Him and share Him and His Perfect Work with others.
Consider: “995. בִּין biyn: A verb meaning to discern, to perceive, to observe, to pay attention to, to be intelligent, to be discreet, to understand; in the causative sense, to give understanding, to teach; in the reflexive sense, to consider diligently,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.
In the Hebrew, this word, consider, involves diligence in paying attention, applying intelligence and even sharing or teaching what has been so carefully discerned.
Remembering and considering are means of both inward reflection and outward sharing with others. We simply won’t be able to keep His Perfect Work to ourselves.
As we intentionally and purposefully remember and consider Him Whose Work is Perfect, our doubts are diminished and His greatness is magnified.
When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. 47 For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. And by this word you will prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess,” (32:45-47).
Moses exhorted God’s people (and that includes us) to remember and consider the power of His Perfect Work given in His Perfect Word. It is not idle or empty, mere human words. His Word is meant to give, sustain, and become our life.
May we so trust Him Whose Work is Perfect, and by faith find all we need for life and godliness in His Perfect Work revealed in His Perfect Word.
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises… (2 Peter 1:1-4).