What does Moses' fasting reveal about his relationship with God in Deuteronomy 9:9? Framing the Moment in Deuteronomy 9:9 “When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.” Total Dependence on God • Forty days with “no bread” and “no water” is physically impossible by human strength alone. • Moses’ survival testifies that God Himself sustained him (cf. Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). • Fasting removes every earthly prop, spotlighting complete reliance on God’s presence and power. Undivided Attention and Intimacy • The absence of food and drink signals a setting aside of normal life so nothing competes with hearing God. • Exodus 24:18 and Exodus 34:28 repeat the same forty-day fast, emphasizing an ongoing pattern of communion. • Psalm 27:4—“One thing I have asked of the LORD…”—captures the heart posture Moses displays: single-minded pursuit of God. Reverent Obedience to Divine Command • Going up the mountain was at God’s summons (Exodus 19:20), so fasting underscores submission to divine timing and method. • Moses does not negotiate the terms; he simply ascends and abstains. • His obedience contrasts sharply with Israel’s sin at the foot of the mountain (Exodus 32), revealing a leader whose priorities are aligned with God. Formation of the Covenant Mediator • During those forty days the covenant tablets are written (Deuteronomy 9:10). • Moses’ emptied stomach parallels an emptied self, ready to receive and later relay God’s law. • The fast therefore shapes Moses not only personally but vocationally—equipping him as Israel’s mediator (cf. Galatians 3:19). Foreshadowing a Prophetic Pattern • Elijah later fasts forty days on his journey to Horeb (1 Kings 19:8), and Jesus fasts forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). • Both episodes echo Moses, showing a biblical motif: those chosen for pivotal revelation often undergo total fasting, marking them as God-appointed servants. Key Takeaways for Today • Fasting can cultivate deeper dependence on God’s sustaining word. • Setting aside ordinary comforts intensifies attentiveness to divine revelation. • Obedient fasting prepares the believer for service, aligning heart and mission with God’s purposes. |
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