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The long
journey was finally nearing its conclusion. Forty years
wandering around the hot desert must have been
physically as well as emotionally exhausting. It had not
always been pleasant living like nomads for so long. As
Moses climbed the mountain for what would be the last
time he must have felt a clear sense that his life was
not lived in vain. All of his struggles had been worth
it as he sought to communicate once again with God on
the mountain. He could look back over his long life and
realize that God had a plan for him and more
importantly, that God was with him every step of the
way.
What was
going through Moses’ mind as he neared the Promised
Land? Like a movie flashback did he remember the time
many years before when God first called him through the
burning bush? He was just minding his own business
tending his father-in-law’s sheep when God broke into
his life. Maybe he recalled the dramatic escape from
Egypt through the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in hot
pursuit. Then there were all the times the people
griped and complained getting themselves into trouble.
While Moses was on another mountain receiving the Ten
Commandments the people were melting all their gold
jewelry to make a golden calf to worship. This might
have been a decisive moment in his journey. Maybe Moses
was feeling a sense of relief with his sojourn coming to
an end. He had done what God wanted him to do.
Maybe Moses
felt a sense of relief—after all he spent the better
part of his life to get to this moment at the edge of
the Promised Land. He might have been thinking, “This
is it—the moment I’ve waited for all my life.” And
indeed it was. At that moment Moses was feeling the joy
of accomplishment. His goal had seemed so far off that
at times he might have wondered if he would ever make
it. Yet, here he was at the foot of the Promised Land.
No one would think ill of him if he paused to enjoy the
moment.
Moses might
have also felt a sense of disappointment. He had spent
the last forty years of his life leading the people to
this place, the Promised Land, and now at the very edge
he knew he could go no any further. God told Moses, “Go
up to the top of Pisgah and look around you to the west,
to the north, to the south, and to the east. Look well,
for you shall not cross over this Jordan.” (Deut 3:27)
It might not have seemed fair to have gone all that way,
endured many hardships and then not be permitted to set
foot on the land. Earlier Moses had disobeyed God and
as a result was told that he would not be allowed to
enter the Promised Land. He could see it, but not enter
it. It was wonderful to finally have arrived but also
disappointing to not enter the land God had promised to
his ancestors.
Maybe at that moment Moses wasn’t feeling any one of
those emotions, but rather a combination of the three,
relief, joy, as well as disappointment. For the last
time he would climb the mountain to speak with God.
From the top of the mountain Moses could see a panoramic
view he could never have imagined. On one side as far
as his eye could see was sand, the desert where he had
spent the last forty years of his life. But on the
other side as far as he could see were palm trees with
green grass, animals grazing in lush pastures. He could
see everything that God promised. It might have been
like seeing only black and white and then as in the
movie “The Wizard of Oz” suddenly everything turns to
color. There on the mountain top God spoke to Moses
once more, reminding him of the covenant, “this is the
land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob, saying ‘I will give it to your descendants.’”
This was another sign that God keeps God’s promises.
Nearing the end of his life someone might have asked
Moses how he was feeling having experienced so much.
“This is my crowning achievement,” Moses might have
replied. “I’ve been asked time and again was it worth
it—well here is my answer--yes, most definitely!”
There on the
mountain having seen the Promised Land Moses died. We
are told that even though he was one hundred and twenty
years old when he died, “his sight was unimpaired and
his vigor had not abated.” This was a fitting end for
Moses. It was the end of an era. There would never be
another leader like Moses, “for all the mighty deeds and
all the terrifying displays of power that Moses
performed in the sight of Israel.” Fittingly the people
mourned their fallen leader for thirty days.
While it was
the end of an era it was not the end of the story. From
among the people another leader had already been
chosen—Joshua. God had chosen Joshua to lead the people
into the long awaited Promised Land. However, Joshua
was not Moses; he would lead the people in a different
way and in new directions that hopefully would honor
God. Moses led the people through the wilderness and
now Joshua would have the privilege to actually crossing
the border into the Promised Land. Joshua was “full of
the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands
on him.”
Moses died
knowing that the people were in good hands, they had a
new leader Joshua and they also had the Torah to guide
them. It would be a new day for God’s people. Joshua
would face different challenges than Moses, but with
God’s help would work through them.
God
calls, inspires people at just the right time, a time
she or he can advance God’s mission. Moses was the
right person for the right time. But his time had come
to an end. Now it was Joshua’s turn. Joshua would lead
the people triumphantly into the Promised Land.
God
continues to call persons today often for a particular
task at the time when they are most needed. No one else
could have led the people like Moses had; no one could
do what Joshua would do and no one can reach the people
we can as we share our unique life experiences.
In that
moment as Joshua assumed leadership he too might have
felt uncertain about what the future held for him, but
“full of the spirit” he knew that God would be with him
and the people he would lead. Joshua would face some
tremendous challenges as the people took possession of
the land God promised to their ancestors, but through it
all God would not desert them. He would learn to trust
God.
God
continues to call persons today often for a particular
task at a time when they are most needed. God calls
Moses, Joshua and each one of us along with millions of
other people around the world. God continues to call
people today, away from self-centered concerns toward
God.
Ruby Jones decided to stay as Hurricane Katrina churned
menacingly toward New Orleans in late August 2005. Her
children urged her to leave, begging her not to report
for her Sunday nursing shift at Lindy Boggs Medical
Center. Ruby Jones, then 67, chose to ride out the
storm with her patients in the hospice unit of the
hospital. On Monday the raging winds shattered the
hospital’s windows and burst open doors. By Tuesday the
power was out, the water supply was cut off and the
hospital was flooding. Ruby continued to take care of
her patients—bathing them, feeding them, and dressing
their wounds. When help arrived on Wednesday, Ruby
assisted in the evacuation. She finally left the
hospital on Thursday, having kept her promise to care
for her patients.
Her
faith sustained her through those dark days. During the
most harrowing moments of Katrina, Ruby would recite
Bible verses for guidance and strength. She believed
that God would see her through the ordeal.
Quite simply
she said she was just doing her job—one she has carried
out with boundless compassion for over 45 years. Ruby
was a model of care giving at a time when some health
care providers abandoned their posts. (1)
God is at
work in our world. Just when you are about to give up
all hope, there are subtle signs that God is at work,
through people like you and me who are able to
accomplish God’s own purposes. What glimpse of the
future is God giving us? Working together with God we
can make that glimpse come true.
We
do not know what the future holds for us but we know the
One who holds the future—we live our lives trusting God
for all of our tomorrows.
God calls, inspires
people at just the right time, a time she or he can
advance God’s mission. Moses was the right person for
the right time. But his time had come to an end. Now
it was Joshua’s turn. Joshua would lead the people
triumphantly into the Promised Land.
If
you look closely enough you just might see the hand of
God at work in our world today. We have all done enough
wrong in our lives to merit God’s judgment. Jesus Christ
took our sins to the cross. Here is the good news—our
punishment has been paid in full. Thanks be to God.
Amen
1. “Beyond the Call,” Catharine
Skipp & Arian Campo-Flores, Newsweek, July3/July 10,
2006, p. 71
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