Why did Michael the Archangel
protect the body of Moses?Submit YOUR questions, through our easy to use form,
to our team of mature Christians known as the Email Evangelists! Question: Why did Michael the Archangel protect the body of Moses from the devil? Answer: First, let us look into a little background on who is the Archangel Michael. His name means "who is like God" and is Strong's Concordance #4317 for its use in the Old Testament. He is referred to in Daniel 10 as "one of the chief princes" in verse 13 of the chapter. In the thirteenth chapter of Daniel, the archangel has the title 'great prince.' Daniel 10 states: "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people . . ." The last Biblical mention of Michael the Archangel is in Revelation 12 where it says: "And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer." (Revelation 12:7-8, NKJV throughout).
Archangels are spirit beings who are at God's service and endowed with tremendous power and knowledge. Interestingly, the Bible only reveals the names of only two of these types of angels: Michael and Gabriel. The only other angel mentioned by name in the Bible, Lucifer (who became the devil), was not one of them. Let's take look at the Bible verse on which your question is based: "Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!' " (Jude 1:9, NKJV throughout)
Now, in answer to your question, the first commandment states that we are to have no other gods before the true God. "And God spoke all these words, saying: 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.'" (Exodus 20:1-3)
Satan would have made the body of Moses and his grave an object of worship, just as he does with so many things in this world. Israel had formally been guilty of worshipping the golden calf, and the body and tomb of Moses, the revered leader of the nation, would have been a constant place of visit by the people of Israel, had they known the location of his body. People today do similar things, such as Russia having a public tomb for Stalin and Lenin. Many countries like the United States have a tomb for the 'unknown soldier,' and so on where people go today and dwell on the past. |