But you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive today.
Moses stands with a new generation on the edge of the land. He points to two things they can still see: the graves of those who joined Baal-peor, and their own lives. The verse turns a national disaster into a personal question — why are you the ones still alive?
The Point Moses Is Pressing
These chapters have one aim, and Moses proves it from recent history. God cut one generation down for disobedience, and the rest are still standing.
William KellyThis again makes it plain enough. Few words from us are needed to show what Moses, or rather God Himself, has in view in all these chapters. It is obedience. "Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor." So Moses uses this fact too. Jehovah had cut down the former generation for their disobedience.
Obedience here means keeping God's word exactly as He gave it. Moses forbids adding anything to it or taking anything away, and Baal-peor showed Israel what hangs on that.
F. W. GrantThe voice preaches obedience. But it is only obedience when it is loyalty that never gives way and never tampers with the book of God's laws. Nothing may be added, for that would lift man's word up to God's. Nothing may be taken away, for that would pull God's word down to man's… This, experience had shown to Israel: where were the men that went after Baal-peor? But those who clung to Jehovah lived.
What Killed the Others
At Baal-peor, Israelites mixed with the women of Moab and joined their idol worship. The ruin came through the company they kept.
Leslie M. GrantMoses reminds Israel also of the corruption that led to judgment at Baal-Peor (Num. 25:1-9). This sinful partnership broke the Word of God, and the Lord God destroyed the Israelites who mixed with the women of Moab (v.3). Compromise with the enemy will ruin a testimony for God. "But you," Moses says, "who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today" (v.4). This is an encouragement.
Judgment That Started at Home
God judged Israel first, before He judged the people who had led them astray. Moses later used that as a warning.
The Bible TreasuryNote it well. Before Jehovah said, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites," He had avenged Himself on the people of Israel… The New Testament says that judgment must begin at the house of God (see 1 Peter 4:17). And so God began with Israel. To begin at home is the true and right way. It is a divine principle… The Lord teaches the same holy principle of starting with self before correcting others: take the log out of your own eye before you look for the speck in your brother's.
What "Held Fast" Means
Older translations render "held fast" as "cleave." One writer defines the word and shows what it looks like in the New Testament.
Ernst-August BremickerTo cleave to someone means to cling to him and to not let him go. In the language of the New Testament, it is dedication, devotion and commitment to the Lord Jesus. Acts 11 gives a striking example. Barnabas comes to Antioch and sees the work of divine grace in believers who are still young in the faith and come from a pagan background. Verse 23 says: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose" (older translations: "cleave unto the Lord").
Another writer describes that grip as the heart taken up with Christ Himself.
H. L. RossierIt is a soul captured by the beauty of the One it loves and given up wholly to Christ. Such a soul finds a power in Him that lifts it above every difficulty and keeps it from all danger. "Your right hand upholds me."
Why It Keeps You Alive
Clinging is practical. It keeps your supply line open while you live in enemy country.
J. T. MawsonA general going to war will not let the enemy outflank him and cut him off from his base, if he can help it. He knows that once he is cut off from his base, defeat will overtake him. We are in an enemy's country, so we too must cling to the base of our supplies. We must keep in constant touch with the One in whom our resources are.
Summary
- Warning — God destroyed every man who joined himself to Baal-peor. The graves still preach.
- Compromise — the ruin came through joining with the enemy, and compromise wrecks a testimony for God.
- Home first — God judged His own people before He judged those who led them astray. Correction starts at home.
- Hold fast — to cling means to take hold and not let go: devotion of heart, not mere agreement.
- Alive — those who clung to God survived the day of judgment, and staying close to Him remains the line of supply.