No Rock Like Our Rock

As we come to the end of Deuteronomy, we read of Moses being given a prophetic song that future generations in Israel would be taught to sing. It was to serve as a witness against God’s people in the days to come when they would desert the Rock who fathered them. God reveals in this song the sad saga of Israel’s future unfaithfulness in contrast to God’s rock-like dependability and faithfulness - not only faithful in His care and protection, but also faithful in bringing Israel to judgement for their persistent idolatry.
But even in wrath He remembers mercy, and so there is the promise of compassion on those who have come to the end of their own strength. He is the only God, and He alone wounds and heals, and for this reason there is not only hope for Israel, but also for the nations who are exhorted to rejoice with Israel at God’s final deliverance for His people and in the atonement that He will make for His land and people. Moses himself has come to a place of quiet trust and submission to this faithful God who does no wrong, in spite of being barred from entering the Promised Land for defaming God in the eyes of His people. We, like Israel are exhorted not to treat this song as just ‘idle words’ but rather take them to heart so that we will not abandon the God who made us and redeemed us, in order to find another rock in which to trust.