Tuesday, July 2

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Let’s jump back just three chapters to Deuteronomy and reflect a bit on the timing of the story in Joshua 3.  Moses is dead!  The Israelites have recently mourned the loss of the leader that ultimately led them through the Exodus and subsequently 40 years of wandering.  The Nation of Israel is now on the precipice of inheriting the land that has been promised them by their sovereign God.  Read the words of Deuteronomy 34

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—from Gilead to Dan, ² all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, ³ the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. ⁴ 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.”

⁵ And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. ⁶ He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. ⁷ Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. ⁸ The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

⁹Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, ¹¹ who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. ¹² For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

God “promised” (verse 4) the promised land to the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Moses did so much right, but because of his sin he only gets to see the land.  He never crosses over.  From my human understanding it seems so unfair.  However, like I Kings 13 (take a look at that chapter too) obedience regardless of the cost has consequences.  Thus the “legend” never gets to set foot in the land flowing with milk and honey.

Despite being 120 years old, Moses’ eyes were not weak nor his strength gone…yet God is ready for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land and Moses did not make the “cut”.  Our hero is celebrated and mourned for an entire month before preparations for a new leader is put into place.  

Think on that for a moment.  This is bigger than an injury to Lebron James or the retirement of a 30 year CEO, or even an assassination of a President.  Moses has been the Israelite Legend since he returned to Egypt with a stick that produced some awesome feats…from plagues, to water parting, to springs of water…well that was a mistake!  Their mourning would have also included ANXIETY.  

Remember that our anxiety typically rests in our lack of trust in Our God who has repeatedly shown Himself to be faithful in every situation…past, present, and future too.

Bruce McEvoy

Pastor of Family and Serving