Moses is Dead / New Beginnings - Day 95 Through the Bible in a Year

The Mount Pisgah Trail in Western North Carolina commemorates today's historical account of Moses viewing the Promised Land with the LORD before Moses dies.  The second photo is of a postcard of NC's Mt. Pisgah

My Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

Moses is Dead / New Beginnings - When our leaders die, we are often left in a frozen state of immobility...even when we have been prepared...even when the death was expected.  This is a constant throughout Biblical history and, of course, our lives as well.  Holy Week has just passed.  We remember freshly the passion and death of our Lord and Savior, the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.  But God...those 2 great words...give us new hope, new beginnings.  Christ is resurrected, ascends to the right hand of God to make intercession for us, and we await His second coming - to be with Him eternally.  The Israelites have known no other leader since leaving the oppression and slavery of Egypt.  Through all their sins - idolatry and unbelief - Moses stood in the gap for them to allay God's wrath.  Because of them, Moses sinned and is not allowed to enter the Promised Land.  But God...will personally take him to Mount Nebo - the top of Mt. Pisgah - and let him see the Promised Land.  There he dies; there he is gathered to his people.

Our Great Commission - Moses has completed his commission.  Before leaving them, Moses prays for the people he has led.  He has already warned them of blessings or curses depending upon their obedience to God's Word.  He now prays for blessings on them - on each of the 12 tribes.  Now Joshua is called forth by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land - his commission.  In the New Testament, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His pending sacrificial death for them - for us. The twelve apostles, and those who believe after them, are now called forth to preach the gospel to the world - to bring many sons and daughters to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Christ tells them it is to THEIR ADVANTAGE - that He go away:  "...sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  John 16:6-7.  (Matthew 28:19-20)  And with this enabling Helper, the apostles and all Christ's disciples who follow, are given our Great Commission:  "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Before leaving His apostles, Jesus prayed for the 12 disciples and then for all of us who would believe after them (John 17).  We move ahead, building upon the foundation God has provided for us, "for the joy that is set before us", for His kingdom, for His glory, knowing that He is always with us.

Seeing God Through Death / An Emboldened, Empowered Faith - Often it is in the depth of sorrow and despair that we are given a fresh vision of God - a new depth of understanding.  In 2 Kings 2 we read of the double portion of God's Spirit given to Elisha for his new commission after his master, Elijah, is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.  In Isaiah 6 after King Uziah has died, then Isaiah "sees the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple… Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

A bruised heart that chooses to beat with a passion for God amid pulsing pain and confusion may just be the most expensive offering placed on the divine altar. - Beth Moore

The following is a beautiful commissioning sermon given to a new leader of the Buckner Foundation, headquartered in Texas.  It is based on this transition period of Moses' death and Joshua's commission.  I think you will be greatly blessed by it:"New Beginnings"

Gathered to Our People---Day 94 Through the Bible

                       A tradition in Western NC is an annual family reunion that centers around remembering those 
              who have "passed on".  It can be sobering to realize that we, too, will one day "be gathered to (our) people".

The realization of death--our own death, has the potential for humbling us and making us aware that a job, our family, or life in general will go on without us.  This is not something we want to consider.  Moses realized in Deuteronomy 31, that he was at the end of his life.  "I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in" (verse 2).  I, myself, am less than four short years from attaining the 70 year life span that God says we are allotted on average (Psalm 90:10).  There are things I am physically unable to do any more (things you would probably laugh at unless you are my age). I am not "grieved" just yet, however I think I can understand a little about how Moses must have felt as he realized he was as close to the Promised Land as he was ever going to come.  My Dad lived to be almost 95, and I know there were things he really wanted to do, but was physically unable. This was not easy for him to accept.

I wonder if Moses had tears in his eyes as he gave his final instructions to the nation of Israel and prepared Joshua to lead.  During times when we see we are going no farther, there's no doubt a tendency to become self-centered and feel sorry for ourselves.  Our scriptures today offer much wisdom for this time in our lives. Without God's direction, Moses may have had "a break down" at this point.  The song God gave Moses for Israel, no doubt also served to help Moses focus on God's love as the end of his life was in view.  It doesn't seem Moses was feeling sorry for himself although this was surely a sad time for him. (We all basically share the same physical, intellectual, and emotional make up, whether we live now or lived a thousand years ago.  We all think alike in some basic areas and this can be deduced from historic figures in the Bible.)  Moses desired in his heart for Israel to know and love God.  "Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law" (verses 12-13).

Joshua's inauguration as Moses' replacement had to be a bittersweet milestone for Moses. God, our Provider, saw fit to give Moses this song for Israel that was actually a prediction of their future in the Promised Land.  Moses was busy finishing what God had instructed him to do.  He completed the writing of God's law in a book and entrusted this Book of the Law to the Levites to place in the Ark of the Covenant. God told him it would serve as a witness against Israel.  Moses knew the people's hearts.  He knew they would continue in rebellion and stubbornness even after they mourned his passing. He warned them that carefully observing God's law was "not a futile thing for you, because it is your life" (Deut. 32:47).

The song gave to Moses for Israel is recorded in Deut. 32: 1-43.  In essence, God says that regardless of our failure, He and His love for us will always remain the same.  "Greatness" can always--at any point, be "ascribed" to our God.  He has no end of days as Moses and as we have.  He is always just.  He is without injustice!  He is perfect.  He will always remain "A God of truth".  We are blemished and corrupt.  We fail to recognize we are His children.  All generations could no doubt fall under the category of "perverse and crooked" (Jesus referred to the generation of His time as "faithless and perverse" in Matthew and Luke (KJV).  We are foolish and unwise to reject the idea that God is our Father, that He bought us, made us, and establishes us!  We can trace what God has accomplished all the way back to Adam.  Oh, that we could see God's love for us--that "the Lord's portion is His people" (Deut. 32:9).  God's care over His people has been astounding and continues to be so (then, it was Israel; now it is those washed in His blood). He says He is to us "As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings" (verses 11-12), so the Lord leads us even in our generation.

This is an indepth song that God gave to Israel.  Moses must have been blessed by this review of Israel's history and God's journey with them every step of the way.  As I live out the remainder of my life, I pray God will help me live each day without regrets.  May I treasure the past--even the hard lessons I insisted upon learning and could evidently have learned no other way--and see that God has been with me every step of my way, also.  The song ends with God's promise to "avenge the blood of His servants, and render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people" (Deut. 32:43).  God never gives up on us! He knows that we are dust (Psalm 103:14) and has made provision for us even in this--perhaps especially in this.  Philippians 1:6, assures us that,"Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"!

I have seen many in my family come to the end of their lives--all my grandparents, my father, my mother.  I know I will go the way they have gone.  Maybe God provides some comfort for us even in this (If they can do it, so can I).  He told Moses he was going up the mountain to die, "and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people".  God allowed Moses to at least "see the land before you, though you shall not go there" (verse 52).  It is so rewarding to know God!  We cannot go back at the end of our lives and fix things.  But at any point before we die, we can begin a new life in Christ by believing on Him.  I'm convinced that the only regret we will have by waiting until the end of our lives to do so, will be regretting that we waited so long to begin a relationship with our heavenly Father.  Yet, even in this scenario, we can be assured we will be spending eternity getting to know God and enjoying the security His love and His power offers!

The Secret Things Belong to God - Day 93 Through the Bible

The Energy Xchange in Burnsville, NC, near Mt. Celo Church.

"EnergyXchange's mission is to apply the use of renewable resources and practices for educational opportunities and economic development in the fields of art and horticulture."

My Lessons/Reflections/Applications From Today's Readings

The Secret Things Belong to God - One of the sermons that most impacted by life - my need at that time - was from an elderly Scottish minister visiting the United States.  The sermon was entitled, "The Intercessory Work of the Holy Spirit."  I have linked to that sermon below.  It may take a moment to get accustomed to the beautiful, deep Scottish brogue, but the wisdom to be gleaned from that message will be worth it, I think.  One of the more salient points Alexander made was that we are to deal with what God has revealed to us, not spend time trying to figure out what God has chosen not to reveal.  Deut. 29:29:  "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

A Heart to Perceive, Eyes to See, Ears to Hear - (Deut. 29:4)  These come from the LORD and were withheld from the unbelieving Israelites but are given to believers today through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:  (Eph. 1:17-18) ..."that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..."

The Curse - Following the Dictates of One's Own Heart - (Deut. 29:19-20)  '...he blesses himself in his heart, saying, "I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart" - as though the drunkard could be included with the sober...the LORD would not spare him; ...every curse written in this book would settle on him.'  This, of course, happens throughout Israelite history (and our own) and becomes a warning of the prophets and proverbs: a man doing what is right in His own eyes and ignoring the Word of God.(Proverbs 14:12, 21:2, 26:12; Judges 17:6, 21:25; Isaiah 1:18, Jeremiah 5:18-25.  "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." (Deut. 30:14).  "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing...therefore choose...love the LORD your God...obey His voice...cling to Him." (Deut. 30:19-20)

I Am Not Worthy / The Compassion of Christ for the Glory of God - (Luke 7)  The centurion - a Gentile - showed more faith than any in the nation of Israel - God's chosen people.  We have seen this comment before coming from Jesus in regard to Gentile believers.  They realized they were not worthy of the Lord's mercy, but they also were led by great faith to call on His compassion.   Christ's compassion extends to those in extreme sorrow and distress and leads to His bringing the widow's only son back to life.  'And He said, "Young man, I say to you arise.  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He presented him to his mother.'  The result, as with all of Christ's miracles:  God was glorified. (Luke 7:14-16)  In this miracle, we see a glimpse of the coming passion of Christ - dying that men might live eternally, presenting the redeemed to His Father - all for the glory of God. (John 17)

Encouragement for the Discouraged - Jesus encourages the condemned prophet, John the Baptist: The Mission is being accomplished, the promised Messiah is fulfilling prophecy - "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them."  (Luke 7:22-23).  There are, of course, both physical and spiritual implications to these miracles. But the greatest encouragement is reserved for us as believers:  "For I say to you among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7:28)

The sermon mentioned in the blog post: "Intercessory Work of the Holy Spirit"  Dr. Eric Alexander (Message by the Scottish Minister from Glasgow, Scotland.)

Choosing Desired Outcomes---Day 92 Through the Bible

                                What we "catch" in life can be determined to some extent by where we "fish".
                                                              (Balsam Lake in Western NC)

It's frustrating to be in a position where you don't know exactly what to do.  God in His love and mercy does not leave us in the dark about what He expects.  He allows us to choose.  However, He makes it clear that in our choosing, we need to remember we are also choosing consequences.  Some paths result in good consequences and blessings while other paths bring less than desirable consequences.  Moses and the elders of Israel instructed the people to "write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law".  God clearly tells us in His Word what is right and what is wrong.  Moses, the priests, and Levites cautioned the people to "take heed and listen. . .this day you have become the people of the Lord your God" (Deut. 27).

Israel was on the verge of entering the Promised Land and how they would fare would depend on whether they remained faithful to God and acknowledged Him in what they undertook.  God laid out for them a comprehensive list of actions that would result in blessings and those that would result in curses.  God never changes.  As believers, we are certainly not under the penalty of the law because Christ has paid the penalty for us.  However, God has not changed His mind about sin and sin continues to be linked to curses ("undesirable outcomes" in today's terms) that accompany sin.  As believers in Christ, we have been freed from the bondage of sin--not freed to commit sin.  God has not done away with penalties that accompany wrong choices.  This should be obvious as we observe the rampant consequences of sin in the world today.

While we desire blessings in our lives, our hope is in God and not in a life free from problems.  However, we will without doubt, face more than enough challenges in our lifetime without incurring the consequences of sin.  If we are truly born-again believers, we will produce the fruits of the Spirit.  We will be closely connected to the Vine (John 15) and will struggle against desires that would return us to the bondage of sin along with its consequences.  When we come to Him, hear His voice (His Word), and apply what He says in our lives, Jesus says we have dug a deep foundation and we will not be moved.

God expects us to build our lives on Him.  If we are doing so, we won't have time to "play with sin".  Once we begin to see who God is and what a relationship with Him involves, we will be drawn to follow Him more and more.  He will energize us and our lives will become a daily walk with Him.  Israel did not have a spiritual connection with God.  They did not have access to God as we do.  We are blessed to have the Holy Spirit dwell in us from the moment we believe.  Yet, it is our choice whether we will hear and follow God's leading.  Father, help us remove the spiritual beams from our own eyes, to love our enemies, to exhibit mercy, to forgive, to not condemn, and to follow Your example and become givers, expecting nothing in return.  Enable us to exhibit Your qualities and to let our lights shine in this spiritually dark world as sons and daughters of the Most High! 

Our Irresistible Future With Our Risen Savior - Day 91 Through the Bible

  

Remembering..."encouraging one another all the more as you see the Day approaching." Heb. 10:25

Remember...You Shall Not Forget ( Deuteronomy 25 and 26) God is reminding the Israelites that He has not forgotten and neither should they.  It has been a long time...it will be longer still before God strikes back at the Amalekites for attacking Israel during the Exodus...from the rear...when they were weary and tired..not fearing God (ref Ex. 17:8)  God's vengeance against these enemies at a later time is recorded in 1 Sam 15:2.  He is encouraging His people.

But for Now... First Things First (Deuteronomy 25 and 26)  First, the Israelites must possess the Promised Land and wait...until God has given them rest from their enemies all around.  The past is left in God's Hands, in His timing, in His Way.  The Israelites have God's commands... now...for dealing with family, with animals, with business practices, with executing righteous judgment, with tithing from their increase and worshipping God, caring for the Levite, the fatherless, the stranger, the widow...to walk in, keep, and obey God's commandments that they may prosper and be blessed in the Promised Land.

My Lesson/ Reflection/Application:  Oswald Chambers said it best, I think: "Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him."  God has promised... about those things in the past over which I have no control.  I must prayerfully commit those to Him to handle in His Way, in His timing and move forward into His new directives for my life.

God and My Sin / The Righteous and the Wicked (Psalm 39:7-11 and Proverbs 13:4-6.  First, with my sin...my only hope is in God...to deliver me from my transgressions...to not make me a reproach...to remove the plague from me - to acknowledge that God has allowed the consequences of my sin to come upon me...to repent.  And with understanding the natural laws...the usual way of the world and man:  laziness = lack; diligence = reward.  "A righteous man hates lying; the wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.  Righteousness guards a man; wickedness overthrows a man."

My Lesson/Application: Our world is so convoluted that these proverbs do not often seem true from a worldly perspective, certainly not from a moment-in-time consideration.  Over a lifetime or years, in looking back, we can often see this.  I once heard a sermon series on the Proverbs, and that was the gist of the series.  These are the usual consequences of righteous and wicked living..observations...not commands, but we live in a fallen world and because of that, they are not blanket truisms.

Pharisaic Rage / Jesus' Healing Touch - The Lord of the Sabbath is more interested in doing good than evil, in saving life than in destroying it.  The religious leaders are not.  They plot the end of the Lord of the Sabbath in order to maintain their control over the Sabbath.  They plot and consummate the murder of the Lamb of God at Passover, while observing the minutiae of preparing the ritual sacrificial lamb of the Passover.  And they do this with rage - uncontrolled, unreasonable anger - conspiring together as the Jewish priests and leaders of Chosen Israel against God's Chosen Son - the gentle Savior who submits to their evil plots out of obedience to God - for the salvation of our souls. "And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all."

Holiness is not the way to Christ. Christ is the way to holiness. - Adrian Rogers