When God Says: "I Don't Want To Talk About It"

[Michael Parnell]

Deut. 3:23-29 

"And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, 24 O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. 27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor." 

This was Moses' last plea to enter the land and not be denied because of the one sin of striking the rock twice (Deut. 3:23-25; Deut. 4:21 22; Numbers 20:8-13).  A deeper study of Numbers 20:8-12 gives us a fuller insight into the severity of his punishment.

Speaking to the rock was all that was required of Moses, and it would have been effective in proving to Israel the benefits of the Messiah who was typified by the rock (2 Cor. 10:14). The rock had already been struck once, typifying Christ's crucifixion which was only to happen once for all men.  Merely speaking to the rock now would have brought the same benefits as striking it before. 

The same is true now of Christ: all we must do is ask and receive.

Let's take a few play by play looks at our passage here in Deuteronomy.  Verse 24 - "...thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand:" 

Moses may have hoped to persuade God to let him go into the promised land.  Perhaps he thought God would relent by now, in view of his long period of faithfulness.  Moses made the plea in his dying hour. Man may become especially merciful at such times, but God is merciful all the time, not just at a person's death.  God knew what was best; He could not afford to allow or encourage crucifying Christ afresh in type any more than He will tolerate it in reality.  He continues, "For what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?"  Have you ever tried to pull a "snow job" on God?  Let's learn from Moses:  That ain't gonna happen!  And Moses began to realize this and says in verse 26, "But the Lord... would not hear me:  and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee: speak no more unto me of this matter."  God says, "I'm not talking about it anymore, Moses."  We find here another valuable...

Lesson on Prayer

Notice very carefully that this refusal to answer Moses is not an example of God saying no to men who pray according to His will and the Word of God. Some carelessly say that God always answers prayer, but sometimes says no. This is a deceptive excuse of unbelief.   Understand this:  God never has and never will say no to any child of His—anyone who is in Christ and is sincerely asking according to the promises given. God may say it to people who live in unbelief and use this and every other kind of excuse of unbelief in prayer, but He will surely not say it to people of faith who ask in faith in the name of Jesus Christ, and according to His promises. God cannot and will not refuse to fulfill His own Word.  He will meet His own obligations as plainly stated (Numbers 23:10; Psalm 89:34; Psalm 119:89,90,160; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Cor. 1:20; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:28).  When prayer is not answered, unbelief (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22), faithlessness, sin and/or judgment are plainly involved (as in the case of Moses here).  The will of God is not a question where one is truly a child of God, and asking according to the promises, for it is the revealed will of God for His children to ask what they will and desire (Mark 11:22-24; John 15:7).

So, let us be mindful that if God says He doesn't want to discuss it anymore, He has a very valid, righteous and pure reason as to why He doesn't.  The best policy for us to strive for is to not get ourselves into a position, such as the one Moses found himself in.

There are multitudes of God's people who may see their promised land, but may never get to experience it for themselves.  I don't know about you but, I want to not just see my destiny,  but I want to fulfill and complete it! 

Pastor Mike