Moses and the Promise: Lessons from a Bizarre Bible Story

The Bible is full of bizarre stories; this may be a new one for you.

When the Israelites left Egypt, Moses was 80. By the time they were about to enter the Promised Land, he was 120. He had led these people through arguing with Pharaoh, the red sea, grumbling Israelites, the ten commandments, and now he was so close. He desperately wanted in. So, he gave it one more shot.

Deuteronomy 3:24–26 (CSB) :Lord God, you have begun to show your greatness and your strong hand to your servant, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours? Please let me cross over and see the beautiful land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon. 26…The Lord said to me, ‘That’s enough! Do not speak to me again about this matter.’

Ouch.

Not exactly greeting card material. Then Moses handed things off to Joshua, climbed Mt. Nebo, and died.

That isn’t the answer to my prayers that I want to hear. But it is, sometimes, the answer we need to hear.

But here’s what Moses couldn’t see yet, that the promised land in glory, with God Himself was infinitely greater than any piece of land east of the Mediterranean. He just had to die first to find out.

Just die first. Right. But it doesn’t end there.

And then, about 1,500 years later, Moses shows up on the mountain of transfiguration with Jesus, Peter, John, and James. Luke 9:31 says that he appeared in glory. Now he’d seen the real promised land. Now he’d seen The Promised One.

Sometimes “that’s enough” isn’t a door slamming shut. It’s God saying, What I have for you is so much bigger, you can’t even imagine it from where you’re standing.“

Maybe you’re carrying unmet needs, unanswered prayers, real hurt. Hold on to this:

2 Peter 3:13 (NLT) We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. That’s our verse for the week.

Justice. Peace. Healing. Satisfaction. It’s all coming. You will see it.

But you may not see it in this place.

Be encouraged,

Dan

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Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash