Elder's Corner: Words You Never Want To Hear

“It's terminal cancer.” “It's an inoperable brain tumor.” “It's Alzheimer’s.”  “It's your wife, or husband, or son, or daughter.” Sometimes we don't have a choice when the doctor lowers his voice and gives us the diagnosis.  But I want to talk about something in which you do have a choice. A question I have for you is what is the saddest verse or scripture in the Bible?  Here is one of my picks: Deuteronomy 32:48-52 (NASB). “That same day the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Moab, to the mountains east of the river, and climb Mount Nebo, which is across from Jericho. Look out across the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the people of Israel as their own possession. Then you will die there on the mountain and join your ancestors, just as Aaron, your brother, died on Mount Hor and joined his ancestors. For both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. You failed to demonstrate My holiness to the people of Israel there. So you will see the land from a distance, but you may not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Moses had been chosen by God to lead His people, the Israelites, out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. God performed many miracles through Moses to get Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the Israelites leave. Moses had been disobedient to God in performing a miracle at Meribah (see Num. 20:6-13) So God chose Joshua to replace Moses and lead His people (Deut. 31:3).

A couple of observations from Deuteronomy 32.  First, Moses was 120 years old at the time and still able to climb mountains. — That's impressive.  Second, God told Moses to do something a certain way but Moses thought “his own way” was better.  Do you ever do that? Think your way is better or question why God wants us to follow His way.  His way will lead to holiness, when we let Him be in charge.  This story reminds me of the game show “Let's make a Deal.”  Moses passed up Door #1 (the Promised Land) for the “zonk” prize because he wanted to do it “his way.”  God told him to climb the mountain and see what he had missed.  God expects us to listen to Him—to be holy!  So I can choose that response to His love and expect this phrase from Him:  “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord” (just like the servant in Matt. 25:21).  

--Alan