He is a prominent figure in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity... everyone likes him.
He was a righteous man, but he failed constantly.
This morning reading Deuteronomy I was so encouraged by his sacrificial leadership.
Here he is leading the Israelites at the end of the the forty years of wandering.
THINK about that.... 40 years with these whining, complaining, grumbling people....
If there was anyone who had an excuse to walk away from the calling or despise God for the calling, it would be Moses.
So the context for Deuteronomy 4 is that the Israelites had just conquered much of the land by the will of God and Moses is reminding his people that he will not be able to go with them into this promised land.
WHY? ???
I would be so angry.... just thinking about Moses' situation makes me so sad for him.
He has led these disrespectful, downright disobedient people for 40 years and gets to the place where he reminded of Gods goodness, but immediately reminded of what he will be missing out on.
more context....
In Numbers 20 we learn why Moses is prohibited from entering the promised land.
The Israelites, once again grumbling, are in the desert without water and Moses and Aaron plead before the Lord to give water. God tells Moses to assemble the Israelites and before their eyes speak to the rock to give water.
Well, Moses gathers all the people around, but instead of speaking he strikes the rock twice with his staff and the water flows out.
So, whats the problem? Everyone gets water...
But Moses compromised the testimony of God's holiness before the people.
What i never knew before reading today is that Moses SISTER & BROTHER died right before and after this situation.
Miriam died right before and Aaron died right after.... how discouraging.
Not only is Moses unable to go into the land flowing with milk and honey... but not he has lost the two most important people to him.
Like I said, if there was every anyone to want to quit and be bitter with God, it was Moses.
SO back to Deuteronomy 4 and why Moses amazes me.
We have the context of who Moses is, the fact he is not entering the land, and now he is in charge of raising up a new leader, Joshua, to lead the people into the land.
Moses is on his way out and he takes full advantage of it.
He doesn't tell the Israelites everything he hates about them, or complain about how it was their fault he messed up.
He reminds them of the GOOD NEWS.
He reminds them....
He speaks to the people saying, "O Israel, listen to the statues and the rules that i am teaching you..."
He reminds them how great it is to have a God so near to us, whenever we call upon his name.
He reminds them not to forget what their eyes have seen, don't let it depart from your heart.
He reminds them that they have not seen God, but only heard his voice.
He reminds them of the covenant God made with them and wrote down his commandments.
He reminds them because they had not seen God's form, not to make images and not to worship the creation.
"Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you... For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
I can't help but think Moses was harkening back to the his mistakes he had made, or the glory of the Lord he experienced, or the miracle of God's hand.
He knew God was jealous. He experienced God's jealousy.
He knew that God was righteous, holy, and just.
The reason Moses amazes me is because he was a sacrificial leader.
We are all leaders in the Church like Moses, whether leading 1 or 100, young or old, male or female.
Those disciples are going to grumble, sin, disobey, and downright disrespect God and us.
But like Moses, we are to be a living reminder.
Moses didn't point to himself... he pointed to the God who made a covenant with them and chose them.
Would I sacrifice reward in order to lead the people of God to reward?
If I knew I wasn't going to the promised land, would i still be able to speak of God so passionately and zealously?
If these people had failed me so many times and given me so much heartache, could i still remind them of the goodness that lie before them and warn them of sin?
Moses did. Moses showed grace. But Moses was not perfect.
Moses points us to Christ....
Just like Moses, Jesus lost everyone close to him.
During his trial and crucifixion his best friends left his side...
In fact, it was one of his friends that handed him over and let him down.
Jesus' own people, the Jews, hated him and desired to have him killed.
Just like Moses, Jesus could have told them exactly what he felt, but instead he continually showed grace and pointed them to who God is and the covenant he has made and has come to fulfill.
Just like Moses, Jesus died without receiving earthly reward.
Jesus knew what he had to do, what he had to sacrifice. He had to give up his life...
But just like Moses, Jesus knew the will of the Father and he knew it was good despite how it looked or felt.
Moses points us to the perfect intercessor, Jesus Christ who lived perfectly and took on our grumbly, hatred, and disobedience so that we might enter the Promised Land.
Moses points to the true Sacrificial Leader.
