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Today’s lesson scripture is from Deuteronomy and comes at the conclusion of the Song of Moses, in which the inevitable future rebellion of Israel is foreshadowed.  In this regard there are similarities to Stephen’s speech to the council in Acts Chapter 7:1-53.  Moses’ song and witness come at the end of the wandering in the wilderness, at the point where Israel is to cross over into Canaan.  Then God speaks to Moses:

48 On that very day the Lord addressed Moses as follows:
49 ”Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites for a possession;
50 you shall die there on the mountain that you ascend and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin;
51 because both of you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, by failing to maintain my holiness among the Israelites.
52 Although you may view the land from a distance, you shall not enter it—the land that I am giving to the Israelites.” Deut 32:48-52 (NRSV)

So, in the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month (“that very day” referring to Deut. 1:3), Moses is commanded to ascend Mt. Nebo in order that he might see the Promised Land, but then die there and not enter in because he “broke faith” by failing to maintain God’s holiness.  (Cf. Numbers 20:8-12).  Eerdman’s Commentary on the Bible states that the narrative in Numbers 20 does not make clear what Moses’ offense actually was (at page 172 – although at page 126, Eerdman’s sets forth the conventional understanding as expressed by other commentators, including Clarke’s).  In his commentary, Adam Clarke states regarding Numbers 20:12 that:

Because ye believed me not—What was the offense for which Moses was excluded from the promised land? It appears to have consisted in some or all of the following particulars:

1.  God had commanded him (verse 8) to take the rod in his hand, and go and SPEAK TO THE ROCK, and it should give forth water. It seems Moses did not think speaking would be sufficient, therefore he smote the rock without any command so to do.

2.  He did this twice, which certainly in this case indicated a great perturbation of spirit, and want of attention to the presence of God.

3.  He permitted his spirit to be carried away by a sense of the people’s disobedience, and thus, being provoked, he was led to speak unadvisedly with his lips: Hear now, ye REBELS, verse 10.

4.  He did not acknowledge GOD in the miracle which was about to be wrought, but took the honor to himself and Aaron: “Must WE fetch you water out of this rock?”

Thus it plainly appears that they did not properly believe in God, and did not honor him in the sight of the people; for in their presence they seem to express a doubt whether the thing could be possibly done. As Aaron appears to have been consenting in the above particulars, therefore he is also excluded from the promised land.—Adam Clarke’s Commentary

On the other hand, Moses appears to be attributing this to God’s anger at him because of the disaffection of the people of Israel (see, Deuteronomy 1:37, 3:26 and 4:21).  Regardless, it seems to us unfair, doesn’t it?  That for an instant of doubt, or for the sins of others, Moses is to be punished?  Well, whole volumes could be (in fact, have been) written discussing this and we’ll have the opportunity to return to the question during this quarter.  In any event, the point is that Moses, despite what is said in Deuteronomy 34:10-12, fell short of perfection.  Really, the Song of Moses and Stephen’s speech have at least this in common, they point out the futility of Israel’s [mankind's] attempt to keep covenant with God.

For now maybe we should focus not on Israel’s or Moses’ failure to keep covenant, but instead focus on the miracle of God’s steadfast love.  Knowing that we cannot measure up, he “measures down” for our sake.  Or looking it at it another way, we can end with Wesley’s commentary on Deuteronomy 32:52:

“Yet thou shalt see the land” – And see it as the earnest of that better country, which is only seen with the eye of faith. What is death to him who has a believing prospect and a steadfast hope of eternal life?