Quote for the Day
(Deut. 31:8) “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you…”
Today's Prayer
This week spend time with God thanking Him for the relationship He has given you. Ask Him to take control of that relationship and then entrust it to Him. You will enjoy the result!
Deuteronomy 34
Deuteronomy 34 (NIV)1 Then Moses climbed from the plains of to the top of Pisgah, across from . 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 , as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in , 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 thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.9 Now 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 .
Message
The real theme of Deuteronomy is not wandering or departure, but in my mind it is relationship. God allowed the Israelites to wander in an effort to show them not about what is to come, but what we have right now. God desires a relationship with us just as HE desired one with mankind from the beginning of creation. It is a relationship that is truly out of this world and that cannot be replicated on this earth. Moses had that relationship. The last chapter reminds us that Moses was the one who, “…did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in …” (a quick emphasis on “THE LORD SENT HIM.”) God only sends those who receive Him, and those He sends, HE STAYS with through the entire time of “sending.” God does not send anyone alone. Again and again in Deuteronomy and throughout the Bible, we see the phrase, “The Lord goes before you and is with you.” This is such a strange paradox for those of us who travel this earth. We are so used to doing our daily duties by ourselves with our power and for our own glory that we simply lose sight of this fact. The Creator of the universe, the God of all, the Mighty One, is here living inside of us, ready, willing, and able to do all He desires and asks of us. Instead we allow our flesh to say, “No, thanks. I would rather take care of myself.” Our entire society, including the church at times, backs us up on this dreaded thought. “You can do it, and here are the 12 steps to make it happen…”Last week we left Moses on his way to to “…die and be gathered to his people…” and also being shown the Promised Land where he had led this nation for over 40 years. He will only be allowed to see the Promised Land from a distance, unable to tread the land with his own feet. Most of us might say this was a disappointment for Moses, not being able to fulfill his life dream, in fact the life God had established for him. I believe Moses was thinking about something far different. Remember, he had seen God face to face. He had a relationship with God that was a relationship of maturity. I am personally convinced that Moses had no regrets. First, because he knew he was in God’s will and hands, and second because he was about to leave this world of pain for one of glory. Moses, I believe, held no regrets about not being on earth. He had received all he wanted because he wanted God’s will, and God’s plan had been fulfilled. Moses had been the vessel God used. MANY lives were impacted because Moses allowed God to do God’s will in his life not Moses allowing Moses’ will to be done. It is never about us; it is always about God.