Readings for today: Numbers 36, Deuteronomy 1, Mark 11:1-14
You finished Numbers! Great job! Another book down! Some would say you’ve just made it through one of the toughest stretches of the Bible. Pat yourself on the back as we dig into Deuteronomy. ;-)
The Book of Deuteronomy is a sermon. In fact, it is Moses’ final sermon to God’s people. His last will and testament as it were. His final chance to encourage. Challenge. Confront. Comfort. He’s now led Israel for decades. And he was no spring chicken when he got started! He’s led them out of Egypt. Led them through the wilderness. Led them through the ups and downs of the wilderness journey. He has personally witnessed the miracles of God. Delivered the Ten Commandments. Issued the Law. Now he’s at the end of his life. He’s not going over the Jordan. He will not set foot in the Promised Land. Under the mighty hand of God, he has created a system of worship, governance, economics, and military organization that will long outlast him. It is a remarkable accomplishment.
I’ve often wondered what kind of legacy I will leave once I retire or pass on to glory. Am I working to create something that will long outlast me? Am I actively working myself out of a job? Can the system I’ve created survive - or better yet thrive! - once I am gone? I truly hope so because none of us are essential to God’s Kingdom. While all of us are uniquely loved by God, He doesn’t need us to accomplish His mission in the world. This is a good thing! It’s humbling. It relieves all the pressure. We simply do all the good we can for as long as we can in every way that we can until the day God calls us home. Then we hand the baton off to the next generation and cheer them on as they run. This is essentially what Moses does for Joshua and for Israel. So what about you? What would you say in Moses’ position? Given one last chance to address God’s people, what would be on your heart and mind? What would you want them to know moving forward? What lessons would you hope they learned?
One of my favorite speeches of all time was delivered April 3, 1968 by Martin Luther King Jr. on the eve of his assassination. He sounds a lot like Moses in my mind. “Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like any man, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” I think at the end of the day Moses, like King, was happy. He knew he couldn’t go over to the Promised Land but he died knowing his great work was finished. He had witnessed the salvation of God’s people. He had seen the glory of the Lord.
When you finish your life, how will you feel? When you look back at all you’ve experienced. All you’ve accomplished. All you set out to do. When you think about your family. Your children. Your grandchildren. What will you want them to know about you? Say about you? Remember about you? Will it have anything to do with your faith in Christ?
Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 2-4, Mark 11:15-33