Moses has come to the end of his journey. He has led the children of Israel as far as God will allow him. He is on the east side of Jordan, he cannot cross Jordan to come into the land. Three times in the first five chapters, he mentions the fact of his inability. For their sakes, God would not let him lead them in. He kept saying, “It’s for your sake, that God won’t let me lead you in. You see, God was wanting to teach the people the importance of obedience. Moses had disobeyed God.

He was a great leader. In fact, no one before or since, seemed to have such a close communion with God. God speaking to him as He did. Mightily used of God. A hero for the nation. For he is the one that God used to lead them out of their bondage, and to bring them to the borders of the land. But, for the people’s sake, He could not lead them into the land. For the sake of teaching the people the importance of obedience. That really is the theme of the book of Deuteronomy. In almost every chapter, Moses is calling them to obedience, and speaking of the importance of their obedience; and, the dangers that will befall them when they disobey the commandment of God.

Years to come throughout the centuries. As the mothers of Israel held their children upon their laps, and rehearsed to them the story of the beginning of their nation. How that God chose Moses and used Moses, to give them the law, to lead them out of Egypt. They tell of this great hero, but then in hushed voices they whisper in their children’s ear, “But he could not lead us into the promised land because, he disobeyed the voice of God”. Oh what a powerful lesson on obedience! Here is this man, prohibited by God in the fulfilling of his life’s ambition, his failure resulting from disobedience.
 
Deuteronomy is known as the second law. It isn’t that God is giving them new law, but it is sort of a repetition and in it there is the enhancement, we are learning much. Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, for the most part, puts down the mantle of the lawgiver, and takes up the mantle of the prophet. He speaks much concerning the future of the nation, and the things that will transpire to them, as he, by the Spirit of God, looks down the centuries and sees what is going to happen to these people, that God has used him to lead out of the bondage of Egypt