So this week I finished up Deuteronomy in my course to read through the Bible in one year. I used to think that it was pretty unfair that God didn't let Moses cross over into the Promised Land. This week I wondered if maybe it wasn't a gift.
Keep in mind, Moses was 80ish when God called him to the task of leading the Hebrews out of Egypt. I don't know many 80 year olds who would be up to the task. And what a task it was! Those people were the whiniest group of ungratefuls that could be imagined. Just think through the many times Moses had to plead with God not to wipe them out for this misbehavior.
I guess that's why I'm just a little surprised that God took such a hard line when Moses hit the rock more than he should. I sometimes wonder if we didn't get all the story. I've seen three year olds who have bigger tantrums than what Moses was reported for having done. And yet, disobedience is disobedience.
Back to the gift idea...Perhaps God was sparing Moses more heart ache. I imagine though, if it had been presented to Moses that way, he would have tried to go on so that he wouldn't let God down. Some people just don't know when to quit...or how. So God told Moses no, but gave him the chance to peek in from the mountain across the river and see what is was like. And he put younger Joshua in charge of the daunting task of claiming God's promised land.
Then, in the gentlest way, God tells Moses to come on, it's time to go somewhere even better. And Moses was gone. They couldn't find him to bury him. God gave him the best promise, the best home ever.
We get so stuck thinking that what we have here is so good. We don't ache for heaven like the Old Time Saints used to. Would Moses have gotten to comfortable and fat on the Milk and Honey? Have I? Have you?
I don't want to lose out on God's best here through disobedience. And I definitely don't want to miss heaven. I'll just take each day, each thing as a gift and trust that God knows best whether I'm up for the task. And until he lets me know, I'll just keep walking, following, and I'll only hit the rock once when he tells me too. And I'll learn to love manna--and be thankful for the grace of everyday.
