Archive for the ‘Moses’ Category

Day 95: Deuteronomy 32:48-Joshua 1:18; Luke 4:31-5:11 — On the road

Monday, April 5th, 2010

on the roadToday’s readings detail an august, hallowed ending and bright, powerful, robust beginnings.

Moses blesses Israel by tribe, describing their futures and God’s work with them. He then ascends mount Nebo from which he sees that land to which he has brought Israel but into which he himself cannot enter; Moses had failed to revere God as holy before Israel, Numbers 20:8-13. His eye was not dim nor his vigor abated. He just passes from this life to the next. The Creator, YHWH Himself, buries Moses in an undisclosed location. Such a life, such a wonder of courage, intimate relationship between God and man; no prophet like him arose in Israel after him. Moses had laid hands on Joshua and he received the Spirit of God for the work ahead. Now Joshua will take them into that land, “Be strong and courageous,” Joshua 1:6-9. A new leader, a new land, new challenges. A work to be done, evil to be conquered, promises to receive, a kingdom to build.

Jesus, prophet and priest and king, comes to Israel; new wonders to herald a new age. Those denizens of the darker spirit world know Him, but He commands them to be silent, it is not theirs to reveal the Messiah. The works declare Him, the people begin to adore Him, to need Him. The fishermen enter rather abruptly into that procession by a boat load of fish. Peter falls and declares himself unclean. They leave all and follow Jesus, the Glorious Leader to take then to a new land, to face new challenges. A work to be done, evil to be conquered, promises to receive, a kingdom to build.

When the church comes together we see such a mix of lives, of people, like a living stream swirling and flowing. We smile as new parents scramble to “do something” about crying babies. We see ourselves in the aged…perhaps that IS “us”! The aged sing the songs of a faith that is now more exciting and full of hope for them than the day they first believed. New Christians and old soldiers of the cross share in worship and the bread and the cup. We travel with a great host, many entering ahead of us, many after us, moving on the road of life to a new land of promise. A work to be done, evil to be conquered, promises to receive, a kingdom of priests, a kingdom to receive. Jesus truly is that Way, that path for godly living now and the life to come, John 14:1-6, 1 Tim. 4:8.

Question: On what path and with what people do you travel?

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Day 74: Numbers 27:1-29:11; Mark 11:27-12:12 — Who are you?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

The daughters of Zelophehad do not have authority to take an inheritance, no male heir existed to carry on. They understand the culture, the law, but they need help. Who are they? People of God who need help for a rare circumstance, and they receive that help.

The Creator reminds Moses that he had tried to take on too much authority when he struck the rock, “Shall we bring you water?” Now Moses will have to settle for merely looking at the land from a mountain top. Who is Moses? Not as much as he thought he was in that episode. He overstepped the bounds and failed to treat God as Holy.

Joshua stands with Moses, again, as he has so often in the past forty years, but this time something different will occur. Moses will die, the people need leadership. Joshua stands before Eleazar, Moses, and the people of Israel. Moses lays hands on Joshua, and designates Joshua as leader, prophet, and judge. Who is Joshua? A trained and proven warrior, a man of holiness and of the Spirit of God, and now the leader of Israel under God’s authority.

Moses, remind Israel of Who I Am, says God Almighty: The sacrifices, daily, monthly; the festivals to commemorate your deliverance, to remind Israel Who has redeemed them. The next book collecting Moses’ final words to Israel carries the theme, “Lest you forget.” How easily Israel, and at times we ourselves, forget the Identity, the work, and the plans of The Mighty One.

“You entered Jerusalem as a monarch and received praise from the people. Just who do you think you are?” Jesus deals with people as they need, always in a way that challenges them to examine who they are, what they need to be about, what their perspective and relationship with God and themselves should be. Jesus goes back to basics. “What do you think about those who carry God’s authority, and have missions that collide with your own puffed up sense of self importance?” Well . . . He didn’t say that, but that may well be the ego pounding He gave them. Being true to their own nature, they save face and dodge the question. Jesus answers them in a way that says, “You do not really want to know who I am; I wish you did.”

Who are you? Are you in need? God will answer your true needs. Are you blessed by Him? Dedicate your life to Him, worship Him in daily living and in collective worship as the church. Are you a ready servant? God has a work and wonderful direction for your life. Are you vying with God for power and authority? Shudder to consider the implications of this! The voices of the past both encourage and warn us: Know your God first, and then He will know you, and you will know you are.

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