Jump Start # 3678
Jude 9 “But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, ‘the Lord rebuke you.’”
This verse is filled with intrigue and even mystery. Placed in a series of historical reminders about those who received the wrath and judgment of God, including unbelieving Egyptians, angels that did not keep their domain, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Michael’s dispute with the devil. Michael would not pronounce a railing word against the devil. In contrast, the twisted false teachers were reviling the things that they did not understand. An angel wouldn’t, but these false teachers would.
Jude states, “Woe to them!” The false teachers are destructive, fault finders, grumbling, arrogant and creating division. They are worldly minded and following after their own lust, is how Jude defines them.
Our verse reveals something from long ago that there is no other reference to. Michael and the devil going at it over the body of Moses, is something that you can’t find anywhere else. God has shown something that no one knew anything about. I wonder if ancient Israel knew this story.
The expression, “the body of Moses,” sounds as if they were talking about Moses after he died. Who would get him? We remember that God would not allow Moses to go to the promise land. He allowed Moses to see the land and after that the Lord killed Moses. The end of Deuteronomy says that the Lord buried Moses. Nothing is said about this dispute. Who gets his body seems to imply more than just the physical body of Moses.
Moses was killed by the Lord. Moses was in punishment for not doing what God said. In that sense, it would seem that Moses was lost. The devil would get his soul. Yet, Moses’ name is listed in Hebrews 11 as one who gained approval.
It is interesting also that the dispute is between the devil and an angel. It’s not the Lord and the devil, like in the book of Job. And, in this argument, between the devil and an angel, Michael did not dare pronounce a “railing judgment.” Others word this as:
· A blasphemous judgment (ESV)
· Did not charge him with slander (CEB)
· Did not utter a slanderous condemnation (CSB)
· Did not dare condemn him with mockery (Phillips)
· Did not himself dare to condemn him (NIV)
It seems that Michael understood roles, positions and authority. Here are some thoughts:
First, it is the prerogative of God to save or condemn. Michael got that. Wish we did. It is not our place to declare someone is in Heaven or is in Hell. Michael would not rebuke the devil. He allowed the Lord to do that. It is the Lord that will deal with the devil. It is the Lord that has a place prepared for the devil.
Second, Michael did what we can also do, and that is to quote the Lord. Michael said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Using Scriptures, instead of our “think-so” puts the discussion on a different level. When one is cross ways with God’s word, they are now arguing with God. The discussion is not about what you think, the church says, or how I feel. What does the Lord say needs to be brought to the front of the conversation. The Gospel is called the power of God. It is God’s dynamite!
Third, this simple little passage reminds us that there are so many things that we do not understand or even know about. Where did this conversation between Michael and the devil take place? How soon after Moses’ death did it take place? Why were others not included in knowing this until Jude? What else do we not know about?
And, thoughts like this leads us to Deut 29:29, where the secret things belong to God and the things revealed are for our learning. God doesn’t have to tell us everything. Transparency is something for us and not for God. There are some things that we don’t need to know. There are some things that if we did know, such as the date of your death, would bother us. What God has revealed is what we need to please Him, walk closely with Him and follow Him to Heaven.
And, no, when you get to Heaven, you won’t be bringing a list of questions that you expect God to answer for you. Nope, I don’t think that will happen. One reason is because God doesn’t owe us an explanation. But, more than that, I think we will be so joyous to be in Heaven that the questions we have simply won’t matter any more.
If Michael, an angel, wouldn’t condemn the devil, the worst spirit in creation, you and I ought to be careful with what we say. Words matter. Some things should not be said, even to the devil. Michael got it. He understood.
Roger