Was God Unfair to Moses?
Deuteronomy 3:21-29
“ I (Moses) gave Joshua this charge: ‘ . . . Do not be afraid . . . for the LORD your God will fight for you.’ 23 “I also pleaded with the LORD . . . 25 Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.’ 26 “But the LORD . . . would not listen to me. ‘ go up to Pisgah Peak, and look over the land in every direction. Take a good look, but you may not cross the Jordan River.' Deuteronomy 3:21-27
(Moses and other heroes of the faith) died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. . . looking forward to a country they can call their own . . . they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16 (NLT)
Reflection
What a bummer! 40 years of really tough going, unappreciated and tired, Moses gets his people to the promised land only to hear God tell him, “you don’t get in . . . you’re going to die first”
That feels unfair, does it not?
However, since when is life in this life fair”? Since when do the rewards always go to the most deserving? Read the rest of the story beginning with Joshua and ending in Malachi. The Promised Land did not match the dreams of the people. The Dream was far more beautiful than the reality. The Promised Land was indeed a physical reality, a place for this new nation under God. The land was and is important. Yet, even at the height of its beauty and productivity, it was and never will be God’s ultimate destination for his people. For the Promised Land is a metaphor as well as a material reality. It is a foreshadowing of the new earth to come where nature will be restored (Isaiah 65 Romans 8 Revelation21) when a new earth will come down and clothe this one at the restoration of all things.
I love, absolutely love, Hebrew 11:13-16. Moses saw all this through the eyes of faith. He grasped it in his heart and mind. And in doing so he “entered it”. Can you grasp it? Can you see it, taste it, welcome it from afar, look forward to it, even without receiving a material trace of it in this life?
I think Moses could and therefore received a greater reward than those who couldn’t but actually did enter and occupy the land.
Such a reward is available to you right now, too. Dream, grow a sanctified imagination, and enjoy the future that God allows you to glimpse.
(to post your thoughts, anonymously if you wish, simply click on “comments” below)
It's good to remember that Moses, although barred from the earthly Promised Land, went straight to God's spiritual Promised Land. We know this because he was with Elijah and Jesus at the transfiguration. So...when time are tough, we can take comfort in knowing that even if we don't/won't get our "promises" here on earth, we Jesus-following sinners have access to God's spiritual promised land for all eternity. Hallelujah!!
ReplyDelete“Please, Aslan,” said Lucy. “Before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do make it soon.”
ReplyDelete“Dearest,” said Aslan very gently, “you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.”
“Oh, Aslan!!” said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.
“You are too old, children,” said Aslan, “and you must begin to come close to your own world now.”
“It isn't Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”
“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.
“Are are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.
“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – Chapter 16
Anticipation is often more exciting and fun than the event it's self. I think that our eternal home will be just the opposite. It will be much more than we can ever imagine!
ReplyDelete