Readings for today: Deuteronomy 1-3
Moses was an amazing man. He’s right up there with Abraham and David. He’s one of the most important and influential biblical leaders for God’s people. He’s the deliverer. He’s the Law-giver. He’s the one who shapes and forms Israel from a bunch of former slaves into a nation. Moses’ life was broken down into three stages, each lasting around forty years. The first forty years, he was a prince in Egypt. He grew up in Pharaoh’s household. The adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He enjoyed a life of privilege and power. The second forty years, he lived as a shepherd in Midian. He fled Egypt after murdering a man in an attempt to incite an insurrection. He got married. He had kids. He built a life for himself. Things were good. Then God showed up in a burning bush and everything changed yet again. The final forty years of his life was filled with miracle after miracle as well as hardship after hardship. He went back to Egypt. He confronted Pharaoh. He called down plagues. He delivered God’s people. He led them through the Red Sea. He brought them to Mt. Sinai and gave them the Law. He led them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. He faced all kinds of rebellion. He fought wars. He survived death threats. He faced hunger and thirst. The burdens of leading God’s people were overwhelming. Finally, Moses died without experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Imagine you are Moses. 120 years old. Your eyesight has not dimmed. Your strength unabated. You’re standing on the border of the Promised Land. You know you are not allowed to go in. You have to say goodbye to the people you have led for decades. Men and women whom you have watched grow up and helped raise from birth. A generation who did not know Egypt. Did not walk through the waters of the Red Sea. Did not hear God’s voice at Mt. Sinai. What would you say to them as they prepare to take the next step in their journey without you? This is what the Book of Deuteronomy is all about. It is Moses’ final sermon to God’s people. It is his last will and testament. It is his final chance to encourage, challenge, confront, and comfort God’s people. Given one last chance to address those he loved, Moses points them to God. He points them to God’s faithfulness. Points them to God’s provision and protection. He wants them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is with them and He is for them and He is going before them as they cross over into new territory under new leadership.
“The Lord your God who goes before you will fight for you, just as you saw him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the Lord your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:30-31 CSB)
“For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing.”(Deuteronomy 2:7 CSB)
“Today I will begin to put the fear and dread of you on the peoples everywhere under heaven. They will hear the report about you, tremble, and be in anguish because of you.”(Deuteronomy 2:25 CSB)
“Your own eyes have seen everything the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms you are about to enter. Don’t be afraid of them, for the Lord your God fights for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22 CSB)
Now consider your own life. Not many of us - or any of us - will live to be 120. However, in the years we are each given, where do we see God at work? What will our testimony be when our time comes to part from this world? What will we say to those we love and those we lead who will come after us? How can we point them to God?
Readings for tomorrow: Deuteronomy 4-7