In Deuteronomy 32, God has preserved a song that Moses taught the children of Israel. Songs stick with us. They help us remember. Throughout Moses’ song, God is described as “the Rock.” For instance:
“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
Do you thus repay the LORD,
you foolish and senseless people?
Is not he your father, who created you,
who made you and established you?” (32:4-6)
Moses’ song is ancient, but what it tells us about the Rock is just as true and important today as ever. His work is perfect. His ways are just. He is faithful, upright, and without iniquity. He is the perfect foundation on which to build your life. If you’re serious about your purpose, identity, and fulfillment, you will never find better bedrock for joy, peace, and hope.
But here’s something else to recognize about the Rock: there’s no such thing as existence apart from him. You can’t go over, under, or around him. Because his work is perfect, life apart from him is “corrupt.” Because his ways are just, all other detours are “blemished.” When I reject this God of faithfulness, the paths of my life grow “crooked.” When I trespass the boundaries of this Being who is without iniquity, I get “twisted.” I can be “unmindful” of him and try to forget about him for a little while (32:18), but I’ll never be able to ignore him forever, and to act as if I can is “foolish and senseless.” The Rock is.
“Is not he your father, who created you,
who made you and established you?” (32:6)
This song is ancient, but it continues to reveal the fundamental choice before each and every one of us. I can reverently build my life upon him, grounding my purpose, identity, and fulfillment in him, or I can forsake this God who made me, scoff at his will, and foolishly stumble over him, but either way, the Rock is.
And when Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life…” (32:45-47)
The Rock of Moses’ ancient song lives and hears and reigns today. He is still willing and able to be the Rock of our salvation (32:15). Why would we build anywhere else? All other ground is sinking sand.