Deuteronomy 9:18
Then I fell down before the LORD for forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. I did not eat bread or drink water because of all the sin you had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD and provoking Him to anger.
Then I fell down before the LORD
This phrase indicates an act of deep humility and repentance. Falling down before the LORD is a physical expression of submission and supplication, often seen in biblical narratives when individuals seek God's mercy or intervention. This act is reminiscent of other biblical figures who prostrated themselves before God, such as Abraham (Genesis 17:3) and Joshua (Joshua 5:14).

for forty days and forty nights
The period of forty days and nights is significant in biblical literature, often symbolizing a time of testing, trial, or preparation. This duration is seen in the story of Noah's flood (Genesis 7:12), Moses' time on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18), and Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). It underscores the seriousness and intensity of Moses' intercession for the Israelites.

as I had done the first time
This refers back to Moses' initial intercession on behalf of the Israelites after the sin of the golden calf (Exodus 32:30-32). It highlights Moses' role as a mediator between God and His people, a type of Christ who intercedes on behalf of humanity (Hebrews 7:25).

I did not eat bread or drink water
Moses' fasting is an extreme form of self-denial, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and his total dependence on God. Fasting is a common biblical practice for seeking God's guidance or favor, as seen in the lives of Daniel (Daniel 9:3) and Esther (Esther 4:16).

because of all the sin you had committed
This phrase acknowledges the collective sin of the Israelites, specifically their idolatry and rebellion against God. It reflects the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where disobedience leads to divine displeasure and the need for repentance (Deuteronomy 28).

in doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD
The concept of evil in the sight of the LORD is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often associated with idolatry and moral corruption. It underscores the holiness of God and the expectation of His people to live according to His statutes (Leviticus 19:2).

and provoking Him to anger
Provoking God to anger is a serious offense, indicating a breach of the covenant and a failure to honor God as sovereign. This phrase is a reminder of God's righteous anger against sin, yet also His willingness to forgive upon genuine repentance, as seen in the story of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites who intercedes on their behalf, demonstrating his role as a mediator between God and His people.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is just and merciful, and who communicates His will to Moses.

3. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who have sinned and are at risk of destruction due to their disobedience.

4. Mount Sinai
The place where Moses receives the Law and where he intercedes for the people.

5. The Golden Calf Incident
The event that prompted Moses' intercession, where the Israelites worshiped an idol, breaking their covenant with God.
Teaching Points
The Power of Intercession
Moses' intercession demonstrates the power and importance of standing in the gap for others in prayer. Believers are called to intercede for others, trusting in God's mercy and grace.

The Seriousness of Sin
The Israelites' sin with the golden calf shows the seriousness of idolatry and disobedience. Believers must be vigilant against anything that takes the place of God in their lives.

God's Mercy and Justice
God's willingness to listen to Moses' intercession highlights His mercy, even as His justice demands accountability for sin. Believers can trust in God's character, knowing He is both just and merciful.

The Role of a Mediator
Moses as a mediator points to the need for a mediator between God and humanity, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Believers can find assurance in Christ's intercession on their behalf.

Perseverance in Prayer
Moses' forty days and nights of prayer emphasize the need for perseverance in prayer. Believers are encouraged to persist in prayer, especially in times of crisis.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Moses' role as an intercessor in Deuteronomy 9:18 inspire you to pray for others in your life?

2. In what ways can the account of the golden calf serve as a warning against modern-day idolatry?

3. How does understanding God's justice and mercy affect your relationship with Him?

4. How does Moses' intercession foreshadow the work of Christ as our ultimate mediator?

5. What practical steps can you take to develop a more persistent and effective prayer life, following Moses' example?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32
This chapter provides the background for Moses' intercession, detailing the sin of the golden calf and God's initial response.

Numbers 14
Another instance of Moses interceding for the Israelites, showing a pattern of his mediatory role.

Psalm 106
Reflects on Israel's rebellion and God's mercy, highlighting the importance of intercession.

Hebrews 7:25
Connects Moses' intercession to the ultimate intercession of Christ, who continually intercedes for believers.
Humiliating MemoriesR.M. Edgar Deuteronomy 9:7-29
The Sin At HorebJ. Orr Deuteronomy 9:8-22
The Place of Human MediationD. Davies Deuteronomy 9:18-29
People
Aaron, Anak, Anakites, Isaac, Jacob, Moses
Places
Beth-baal-peor, Egypt, Horeb, Jordan River, Kadesh-barnea, Kibroth-hattaavah, Massah, Taberah
Topics
Anger, Angry, Ate, Bread, Committed, Drank, Drink, Drinking, Drunk, Eat, Eaten, Evil, Face, Fell, Forty, Lay, Lord's, Moving, Myself, Nights, Prostrate, Provoke, Provoking, Sight, Sin, Sinned, Sins, Taking, Throw, Wickedly, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Deuteronomy 9:18

     1654   numbers, 11-99
     4293   water
     5174   prostration
     6684   mediator
     8653   importunity, to God

Deuteronomy 9:8-21

     4269   Sinai, Mount

Deuteronomy 9:16-19

     6218   provoking God

Deuteronomy 9:16-21

     4618   calf
     7324   calf worship

Deuteronomy 9:18-19

     5790   anger, divine
     8611   prayer, for others
     8614   prayer, answers

Library
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

Moses' Prayer to be Blotted Out of God's Book.
"And Moses returned unto the Lord and said. Oh! this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou--wilt, forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray they, out of thy book which than hast written." In the preceding discourse we endeavored to show that the idea of being willing to be damned for the glory of God is not found in the text--that the sentiment is erroneous and absurd--then adduced the constructions which have been put on the text by sundry expositors,
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Mount Zion.
"For ye are not come unto a mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them: for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: but ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Angel of the Lord in the Pentateuch, and the Book of Joshua.
The New Testament distinguishes between the hidden God and the revealed God--the Son or Logos--who is connected with the former by oneness of nature, and who from everlasting, and even at the creation itself, filled up the immeasurable distance between the Creator and the creation;--who has been the Mediator in all God's relations to the world;--who at all times, and even before He became man in Christ, has been the light of [Pg 116] the world,--and to whom, specially, was committed the direction
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Deuteronomy
Owing to the comparatively loose nature of the connection between consecutive passages in the legislative section, it is difficult to present an adequate summary of the book of Deuteronomy. In the first section, i.-iv. 40, Moses, after reviewing the recent history of the people, and showing how it reveals Jehovah's love for Israel, earnestly urges upon them the duty of keeping His laws, reminding them of His spirituality and absoluteness. Then follows the appointment, iv. 41-43--here irrelevant (cf.
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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