PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Deuteronomy.31-34
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross into it.” (Deuteronomy 34:4)
Moses’s task is complete, but he does not get to enter the land.
He had the unfortunate privilege of leading through the wilderness.
Someone else would have the privilege of leading into the land.
We all have different assignments, and we all have a role in God’s plan.
Moses got to see God’s purpose from a distance, but not to see it fulfilled.
We are all like Moses, we get to see God’s kingdom from a distance, by faith.
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” (Hebrews 11:13)
From where we stand, it is hard to imagine God’s better world.
We are in the wilderness still, following the Lord through trials and challenges.
But we do not walk alone, the Lord walks with us and helps us along the way.
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
In the middle of this valley, I keep looking ahead, trusting in Him and His promise.
PRAYER
Lord, the view from hear is not great. Help me not to be discouraged or distracted by the challenges of the desert. Help me to fix my eyes on You, and on the vision of Your coming kingdom!
Lord, you are powerful and wondrous, you know how we will disobey you before we’re even born! Thank you for the tradition of songs so that the words we sing may be a witness to you against us. Thank you for the way the words and blessings remind us of how great you are even when we are rebellious.
On that same day the Lord told Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. 50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die . . . . 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.” (Deut 32)
Moses was a man, whom God directly spoke to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt into Canaan, God’s promised land. But Moses saw the land only from a distance and did not enter the land. It was because Moses broke faith and did not uphold God’s holiness among the Israelites.
But thanks be to God, the Father that He sent the true Moses, Jesus Christ who perfectly lived all the laws give to Moses and always uphold God’s holiness even the point of dying the most horrible cursed death on the cross. Jesus upheld God’s holiness and satisfied His justice for me. He knew me yet He loved. And while dying on the cross He forgave my sins even before I was born saying, “Father forgive them for they do not know whet they are doing.”
All Jesus asks of me everyday is to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him. And I can because He also assures me that my Jesus himself will be with me forever even to the very end of the age.
Jesus my Lord I will follow.
Reading the stories of Moses – a great man of God – yet a sinner, a human like me – making mistakes – yet Moses remains obedient. He was not allowed to enter into the promised land – God was consistent in meting out the consequences of Moses’ failure at Maribah -yet Moses owns up to his mistake – and God still shows him a the land before he dies – eyes though 120 years old – but clearly sees the land before him. God is good to his servant. And so God is good to us, to me. I do must own up to my mistakes and trust in God’s mercy and grace – through Jesus Christ. I don’t get what I deserve and get what I don’t deserve. Hallelujah – what a Saviour!
God speaking.
Living according to the word of the Lord. Do this and live!
God spoke to Moses. Moses had a very special relationship with the Lord. He truly was a servant of the Lord.
I too need to listen and hear His voice saying, this is the way. Walk in it. I too am a servant of the Lord. help me this day, Lord, to live for Jesus.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.