1. When Israel came to Kadesh-barnea – they rebelled (Num. 14)
Sent spies into Canaan & received different reports (Num. 13)
Israel complained & attempted to turn back (Num. 14:1-5)
Lord’s response: not allowed to enter land – sentenced to 40 years wandering (Num. 14:23-38)
37 years later – Moses faced same punishment (Num. 20)
Israel complained & cried for water (vv. 3-5)
God told Moses to speak to the rock – water would come (v. 8)
Moses got angry at Israel & struck the rock (vv )
Lord’s response: not allowed to enter land (v. 12)

2. Moses later said he was not allowed to enter “for your sakes”
Deut. 1:37 – “for your sakes”
Deut. 3:26 – “on your account”
Deut. 4:21 – “for your sakes”
Psa. 106:32 – “on account of them”
1:37
“for your sakes” (NKJV, ASV)
“on account of you” (ESV, NET, NASB95)
“because of you” (HCSB, NCV, NIV)
Translations
3:26
“on your account” (NKJV, ESV, NET, NASB95)
“because of you” (HCSB, NCV, NIV)
4:21
“for your sakes” (NKJV)
“on your account” (HCSB, NASB95)
“because of you” (ESV, NET, NCV, NIV)

3. “for your sakes” “on account of you” “because of you”
Blaming them – saying he is not responsible
Their sin was the occasion that prompted his
His punishment was same to be fair & just

4. Moses Moses Was Not Was Not Allowed Allowed “For Your Sakes”
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26
Deut. 4:21
Psa. 106:32
See how the actions of one
relate to the sins of another

5. Moses Was Not Allowed “For Your Sakes” No Exception Deut. 1:37
Psa. 106:32
No Exception

6. No Exception
Sin is not overlooked – no matter who one is (cf. Deut. 1:37)
Moses was a prophet
Moses was appointed of God
Moses was their leader
Matters little – when he too rebelled!
No one is so indispensable that they must be kept in service
Moses was not so important that Israel could not make it without him
None of us are so needed that the Lord and his people can’t survive without us!
Served as a reminder to Israel as they press on without Moses (if him – then could happen to us too)

7. Comments at Deut. 3:26
“Here Moses is addressing the people, and mentions the punishment of their leaders as a most impressive warning to them, whose principal fault it was.”
Albert Barnes (p. 277)

8. Comments at Deut. 3:26
“But how was he wroth with Moses for the sake of Israel? Either, [1.] For that sin which they provoked him to; see Ps. 106:32, 33. Or, [2.] The removal of Moses at that time, when he could so ill be spared, was a rebuke to all Israel, and a punishment of their sin. Or, [3.] It was for their sakes, that it might be a warning to them to take heed of offending God by passionate and unbelieving speeches at any time, after the similitude of his transgression; for, if this were done to such a green tree, what should be done to the dry?”
Matthew Henry (p. 240)

9. Points to take home
Sin has same consequence for all (Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 6:23)
No one’s sins will be overlooked because of who they are
No one is exempt from punishment because of what they have accomplished in the past
If Moses nearly made it to the promise land and not allowed to enter – could happen to any of us!

10. Personal Responsibility
Moses Was Not Allowed
“For Your Sakes”
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26
Deut. 4:21
Psa. 106:32
No Exception
Personal Responsibility

11. Personal Responsibility
While Israel may have prompted Moses’ sin – he bore responsibility himself
God pointed the finger of blame at Moses (Num. 20:12)
Anything Moses said about “because of you” did not remove his own blame
Every person is responsible for his own life / sin
Each one give account for himself (Rom. 14:12)
Each one rewarded according to works (Matt. 16:27)
Each one bear own load (Gal. 6:5)

12. Comments at Deut. 1:37
“Thus Moses took full responsibility; therefore “because of you” (Deut 1:37) must be construed as “in your interest” or “for your sake” or the like. The seriousness of Moses’ punishment was, of course, in proportion to his role and responsibility as covenant mediator.”
E.H. Merrill (Vol. 4, p. 83).

13. Points to take home Everyone bears responsibility for own sin
No matter what anyone else says or does – no excuse for disobedience
Playing he blame game – doesn’t work

14. Personal Responsibility
Moses Was Not Allowed
“For Your Sakes”
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26
Deut. 4:21
Psa. 106:32
No Exception
Personal Responsibility
Others Provoked Sin

15. Others Provoked Sin Israel’s sin lead to and prompted Moses’ sin
Their rebellion was the OCCASION for his stumbling
Num. 27:13-14 – during the strife, you rebelled
Deut. 1:37

16. Comments at Deut. 1:37
“For your sakes; rather, because of you, on account of you. The Hebrew word (גָלָל) comes from a root meaning to roll, and signifies primarily a turn in events, a circumstance, an occasion or reason. Moses reminds the Israelites that the misconduct of the people was what led to God’s being angry also with him (see Numb. 20:7, etc.; comp. Ps. 106:32, 33)”
Pulpit Commentary (p. 18)

17. Comments at Deut. 1:37
“The wording here seems to imply that Moses blamed his predicament on the people—“Because of you the Lord became angry with me” (v. 37). This need not be the case at all, however, as other occurrences of the adverbial form biglal (“because of”) make clear. For example, Laban was aware that the Lord had blessed him because of Jacob, that is, Jacob was the occasion of blessing and not its cause (Gen 30:27, 30). Likewise, Moses attributed his punishment to none other than his own disobedience, though that act of defiance was occasioned by the people or by his desire to address their needs.”
E. H. Merrill (Vol. 4, pp ).

18. Comments at Deut. 1:37
“Moses did not wish to free himself from guilt. Even in this book his sin at the water of strife is not passed over in silence (cf. Deut. 32:51). But on the present occasion, if he had given prominence to his own fault, he would have weakened the object for which he referred to this event, viz., to stimulate the consciences of the people, and instill into them a wholesome dread of sin, by holding up before them the magnitude of their guilt.”
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch (Vol. 1, p. 860)

19. Others Provoked Sin Israel’s sin lead to and prompted Moses’ sin
Their rebellion was the OCCASION for his stumbling
Num. 27:13-14 – during the strife, you rebelled
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26

20. Comments at Deut. 3:26
“He does not (and cannot) shirk responsibility for his intemperate smiting of the rock in the desert (Num 20:9–11), but he was insistent that what he did was motivated by their incessant complaining and by his desire to meet their demands for water.”
E. H. Merrill (Vol. 4, p. 112).

21. Others Provoked Sin Israel’s sin lead to and prompted Moses’ sin
Their rebellion was the OCCASION for his stumbling
Num. 27:13-14 – during the strife, you rebelled
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26
Does not mean he had no choice

22. Comments at Psa. 106:32
“One man’s sin often leads to another’s, but does not necessitate it.”
Pulpit Commentary (Vol. 2, p. 428)

23. Others Provoked Sin Israel’s sin lead to and prompted Moses’ sin
Possible to influence another toward sin
Possible to provoke (Eph 6:4)
Possible to cause another to sin (Matt. 18:6-9)
Possible to cause brother the stumble (Rom. 14:13, 21)
Possible to embolden one to violate conscience (1 Cor. 8:10, 13)
Possible to put one in a position where they sin (Matt. 5:32)

24. Points to take home
Just because one bears responsibility for own sin doesn’t mean that I did not contribute to it
You can provide the occasion for another to sin
Way we dress (Prov. 7:10)
Way we talk or act (Prov. 6:25)
By engaging in sensual acts with them (2 Sam. 11:1-4)
Encouraging them to violate conscience (Rom. 14)
What we tolerate / allow in children (1 Sam. 2:12; 3:13)
By the example (or lack of) we set (Phil. 3:17)

25. Personal Responsibility
Moses Was Not Allowed
“For Your Sakes”
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26
Deut. 4:21
Psa. 106:32
No Exception
Personal Responsibility
Others Provoked Sin
To be Fair and Just

26. To be Fair and Just God is a just and fair God
He is no respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11)
God is just and true (Rev. 15:3)
God is a righteous judge (2 Tim. 4:8)
Moses’ punishment served to remind of God’s fairness
Israel sinned – sentence was: not allowed to enter
Moses sinned – sentence was: not allowed to enter
Otherwise, there is no fairness
Reminded them of the consequence of sin

27. Points to take home God is fair and just
God will deal with me like deals with all others
God will be gracious and merciful to others – like I hope he will be with me.
God will condemn and punish me – like I think he must do with others
Fairness demands that sin be treated the same in all!

28. Personal Responsibility
Moses Was Not Allowed
“For Your Sakes”
Deut. 1:37
Deut. 3:26
Deut. 4:21
Psa. 106:32
No Exception
Personal Responsibility
Others Provoked Sin
To be Fair and Just