Why were Michael and Satan disputing over the body of Moses?
Jude 1:9
ESV - 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Robert Bamford
Consider; Moses, who represents the law, was buried on the non Cannan side of the Jordon by God Himself.
If we now spiritualise the Jordon as being a type of death, and we have passed through death to a new life in Christ, then we can say the law no longer has a claim on us, (Free from the law o' happy condition).
Now if Satan can resurrect Moses, who represts the law, he can get us Christians back under the law and condemn us.
It is only a thought and not a dogma
Peter Ramirez
I just want to express my deep appreciation for the well-thought-out, Biblically sound answers on the other tab. Simple but good answers following some very theological and thought-provoking ones indeed.
Younger, better, and well-trained minds are a premium resource for the rest of us to draw inspiration from. Godly wisdom is priceless.
Thank you all, and God bless.
Salem Markus Purba
Well, Michael and Satan are celestial beings, only both of them can answer this question why they were disputing over the body of Moses (Jude 1:9).
The point is: as a believers and followers of Jesus, we rely on the power of the LORD to resist our enemy/Satan (1 Peter 5: 8-9) as Michael did:" The LORD rebuke you!".
Leslie Coutinho
Jude 1:9: Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, :The Lord rebuke thee."
Moses, after getting up into the mount of Abarim to see the promised land, was then gathered along with his people just as Aaron, who was also gathered. (Deut 32:50/34:5) The souls that are being gathered under the altar for the judgment day to come, stand before the throne and the Lamb, who washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev 6:9/7:9,14) For there shall be two witnesses that shall come and prophesy, for they will have power that was given to them by the Lord for the fire to come down and proceeded out of their mouth to devour the enemy, to shut the rain, to prophesy, and have power over the water to turn into blood and smite the earth with plagues. (Rev 11:3,5-6/2 Kings 1:12/, Malachi 4:5)
Moses the servant of the Lord, when he died, was buried in a valley in the land of Moab (Deut 34:5) his spirit and soul went to heaven. As Jesus said, a certain beggar Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom, (Luk 16:22) for there is a God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob God of living (Mat 22:32) for they shall come and sit down with them in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 8:11) For He is not a God of the dead but of the living. Satan was trying to take charge of his body as he was the beast of the field (Jer 27:6/Dan 4:12) Michael the Arcangel being resisted disagreed with the devil and said the Lord rebuke thee. (Jude 1:9/Zec 3:2)
Lord Jesus suffered for our sins by being put to death; His grave was made with the wicked and with the rich in His death and was made alive by the Spirit. When His body was put in the tomb and His angels sat in the tomb, His spirit then went and preached unto the spirits in prison. (Isa 53:9/1Pet 3:18-19) Just as Lazarus died, his body was in the tomb for four days and when the Lord Jesus came, He called Lazarus, and that was his soul and spirit which was with the souls being gathered before the throne of the Lamb came back into his body and he arose and came out of the tomb and walked before them. (John 11:44)
The Pharisees came to Pilate to keep watch over the tomb so that the body of Jesus may not be taken by His disciples and say that He is risen. (Mat 27:62-66) An angel was sitting inside the sepulcher clothed in a long white garment and also had two men who stood by them who came to the tomb when the sabbath was passed. (Mark 16:5/Luke 24:4) For they guarded the tomb where Jesus' body was and then His spirit came back into the body and then He appeared unto His disciples. Lord Jesus being witnessed by his disciples told them I am not yet ascended to my Father for He “dined” with them and then went up to heaven. (John 20:17/21:15)
The disputing of Moses' body gives us the evidence that the Lord Jesus has revealed to us through the scriptures, that the spirit and soul of Moses will be sent back into the body being guarded by the angels. For they are the two witnesses “Moses and Elijah” when the Lord was transfigured and our Lord God from heaven said unto all of them who witnessed Him, that, "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” (Mat 17:1-5) For they will come as witnesses and prophesy (Malachi 4:5) having the power that was given to them by the Lord for the fire to come down and proceed out of their mouth to devour the enemy, to shut the rain, and have the power over the water to turn into blood and smite the earth with plagues. (Exo 7:21/Rev 11:3,5-6/2 Kings 1:12)
Malachi 4:5: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.