Links for today’s readings:
Read: Deuteronomy 3 Listen: (4:33) Read: 1 Corinthians 13 Listen: (2:33)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Read: Deuteronomy 4 Listen: (7:22) Read: 1 Corinthians 14 Listen: (5:40)
Read: Deuteronomy 5 Listen: (4:25) Read: 1 Corinthians 15 Listen: (8:06)
Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 3.27
27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. 28 But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”
Numbers 20.12
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
Reflection: Glimpsing the Promise
By John Tillman
Moses never set foot on the Promised Land but he set eyes on it.
The reason he set eyes on it was because of God’s grace. To understand this moment as grace, we have to understand the seriousness of Moses’ sin.
It’s easy to feel bad for Moses. At Rephidim, God told Moses to strike a rock to get water. At Kadesh, God told Moses to speak to a rock to get water. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it. Twice.
“Strike it? Speak to it? What’s the big deal? One mistake and he can’t go in?” This wasn’t just a mistake. Something went wrong in Moses’ heart. God described Moses’ sin as distrust, “breaking faith,” and maligning God’s holiness. (Numbers 20.12; Deuteronomy 32.51-52)
Moses was justifiably angry at the people but he allowed his anger to overcome him. Moses distrusted God’s word and instead of demonstrating God’s holiness, showcased his own strength, anger, and pride. Instead of speaking to the rock, he yelled at the people. He made them fear him, not God. Moses used God’s power in a way God did not prescribe.
As we sympathize with Moses, we must examine ourselves. Sin and corruption may cause justifiable anger yet, in our anger, we must not sin. If we don’t trust that “God’s way” will work, we will abuse power, act rashly, and mistake angry words or actions for holy ones. Others’ sinfulness must not make us self-righteous and vindictive. We must not usurp Jesus’ place as judge or God’s place to avenge.
We begin faith as the new generation, crossing the Jordan, yet, eventually every generation comes to the edge of the Jordan without being able to cross. We have not and will not be perfect. Yet, like Moses, God graciously grants us a glimpse across the Jordan.
Moses never entered the Promised Land. David never built the Temple. Paul never lost his thorn. Like many faithful people, our eyes already glimpse the promise even if our feet have not yet tread its holy ground. (Hebrews 11.39-40)
There is part of the kingdom that we cannot build, part of God’s will that we cannot fulfill. We may feel lost or left behind, remembering our failures. Yet, all is not lost. All will be restored. God will be faithful to his purposes for the next generation. God’s grace to us is being able to glimpse it. Set your eyes on the promise.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Everyone will stand in awe and declare God’s deeds; they will recognize his works. — Psalm 64.9
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime
by Phyllis Tickle
Read more: Is The Lord Among Us?
Don’t allow distress to cause despair or lead you to treat others with disdain.
Read more: Complaints and Responses
Moses took these personal attacks to heart, growing angry rather than compassionate.