Deuteronomy 3:23-28

In verse 23, the words "at that time" were in the last month of the end of the forty years period.

Again, the section we are on is "not having received the promises." He was using Moses as a very interesting, significant example. We see here that Moses pleaded strongly with God to give him this blessing. "Please, God. Please. Let me see the land from the ground itself." He did it so strongly and persistently that the first phrase of verse 26 tells us two things. God got angry at Moses with his persistent appealing to Him, basically telling him to "shut up."

It goes on to show you something else. It also says, "The LORD was angry with me for your sakes." The marginal reference says "on account of you." What I am saying to you is that Moses was going to bear what we will call a punishment, not on his own account; maybe he was partly to blame, but Israel was very largely to blame for why Moses got into that circumstance.

Deuteronomy 3:21-28

It is interesting that this preamble began with Moses in the public eye, and it begins to be drawn to a close with Moses privately in the presence of God. Moses often sought God on behalf of the people, but here he is seeking God in his own behalf. He appeals again to enter the land, and it is this time his request is firmly rejected.

We can be sure that at any time we ask God for something, regardless of what it is, that we are not the only one involved in that request. No one is an island unto himself, complete and entire. Everybody's life touches on others' and God's answer must consider those others as well. And thus God, who never makes mistakes, must consider how His answer will impact on others.