Moses--Day 30

Friday, October 8

Moses: Called, Challenged, Changed

Day 30—A Tribute to Moses

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land…Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, “I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” Deuteronomy 34:1,4

Suggested reading: Deuteronomy 34

Moses is now a hundred and twenty years old. His days were drawing to a close, just like his brother Aaron’s had. These brothers, who had their flaws, remained faithful to God’s call to the very end. God took Moses up on Mount Nebo so he could see the land the Israelites would inherit. Moses would not be accompanying the people. All throughout the wilderness wanderings, God had been grooming his next-appointed-leader, Joshua. This younger and eager faith-filled man would lead them across the Jordan River into the promise land. Moses commissioned him with words that he had learned from all his experiences as a leader. He said to Joshua, “Bestrong and courageous… for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (31:8).

So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He (God) buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor. But to this day no one knows where his grave is…Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face... For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Deut.34: 6, 10, 12

Thoughts:

:

Moses--Called. Remember the burning bush? Moses, with much fear, but with more faith, answered the call.

Moses—Challenged. Remember Egypt? Ten times he rose up his “staff of God” and accepted Pharoah’s challenges. And then, remember the Red Sea? Again, the staff (his faith in God) goes up, and the waters part. And let’s not forget the stiff-necked people he was leading—a daily challenge for forty-plus years! But he kept meeting with God and interceding for the people. You would think Moses would have been bent over in weariness, but Scripture says that even at his death, his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone (34:7).

Moses--Changed. When I think about the little Hebrew baby in the basket floating on the Nile, who then was adopted by an Egyptian princess, who then turned into a wilderness shepherd, I can’t help but think he struggled with his identity. But then he met God his Maker. This encounter began a change in him that would continue for the rest of his life. His “slow of speech” complex disappeared at some point along the way, so much so that the whole book of Deuteronomy is filled with Moses’ poignant speeches to the people he loved.

Scripture says, Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the earth (Numbers 12:3). Meekness: strength under control. That’s what God thought about Moses.

With that being said, I believe with all my heart that when God showed Moses the promise land which he was not able to enter due to his temporary disregard of God’s holiness, there was no “shaming” going on. Discipline occurred, yes, but so did forgiveness. Instead, I think when it was time for Moses to take his last earthly breath, God whole-heartedly turned to his appointed man and said to him in earnest, “Well done good and faithful servant … enter into the joy of your Master” (Matt. 25:23).

Moses crossed the threshold into eternity with the great I AM.

There is nothing sweeter.

In closing: Psalm 63:3-4; Psalm 84:10-12; Philippians 1:21; Hebrews 11:24-29

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your living and active word that has lasted through the ages. I pray that this study of your appointed man Moses will inspire us to be a powerful witness for you while we have life and breath. Moses’ time was then, but our time is now. Call us, challenge us, change us. Amen.