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The Edge of Promise

Words of Faith Final

The Edge of Promise

Words of Faith 8-10-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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NOTE: The story of the Israelites coming into the Promised Land is told through more than one book of the Torah. Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua all tell some of the journey. Deuteronomy is the pivot point as we move into Joshua.  JDH

 

Deut. 34:1-12

    Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land--from Gilead to Dan, [2] all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, [3] the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. [4] Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

    [5] And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. [6] He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. [7] Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. [8] The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

    [9] Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

    [10] Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, [11] who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. [12] For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

 

       One of the most profound places in the Holy Land is this spot on Mount Nebo. It is located in modern Jordan on the northeast side of the Dead Sea. It is an amazing place to contemplate the excitement and anticipation Moses had for his people as he looked into the Promised Land. 

        Moses had brought the Israelites so very far! He led them out of slavery to the edge of the Promised Land!  Now the adventure was to continue as he passed the mantel of leadership to Joshua. He was also preparing for his own great journey to be with the Lord!  We won’t see Moses again in the Bible until the transfiguration of Jesus when he appears with Elijah (Matt. 17:1-3). 

        As the book of Numbers comes to a close, there are several transitions.  There is a transition in leadership as the Israelites move into the land God had promised His people.  The last chapter of Deuteronomy describes this.

        Moses’ last battle had been fought against the Midianites (Numbers 31), and then the Lord described for him the boundaries of the tribes in the land of Promise.  His part of this journey was over, and the time had come for Moses to die. 

        But first, Moses would look into the land.  Moses went up on Mount Nebo as the Lord told him to do. Even today, it is a stunning view.  The Lord showed Moses the whole land and reminded him of the promise to the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to lead the people into the Promised Land. God is so faithful!

         Moses was not sad that he was not entering into the land.  He seemed to understand that his leg of the journey was complete. Though Moses was being disciplined for his act of unbelief (Num. 20:1-13) by not being allowed to enter the Promised Land, he died in faith and as an honored servant of the Lord.

         Additional honor was given to Moses in that the Lord Himself buried him. The statement that “to this day no one knows where his grave is” indicates that either the Lord alone or through the agency of His angels buried Moses. Jude 9 also confirms this.  

         Moses’ burial site, though unknown, was somewhere in Moab. It gives us pause to think that Moses was so special that his last moments on earth were spent in intimate fellowship with God, who permitted no human to take part in his burial.

         It was also time for a new leader.  Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom, and Moses commissioned him by the laying on of hands.  "The spirit of wisdom" clarifies that God gave Joshua supernatural skill for leading the Israelites. It was now time to move ahead.

         These are powerful thoughts in a world filled with transitions as we come through a global pandemic. School is about to begin for the new year, but much is unknown about what school settings will look like. Businesses are reopening and retooling. Whole professions are being reshaped. Churches are reopening to serve a very different world. The book of Joshua is a perfect place to be as we follow the adventure of God’s people as they walk in the land promised to the Patriarchs. God will take us to the place where He wants us.  He will equip us and give us the vision and leadership that is necessary.

        Are you ready for the adventure?  Are you ready for what God has ahead for you?  Are you willing to see what God reveals and then walk in that truth? 

 

         Father God, I thank You for new beginnings.  I thank You for the transition to a new part of the journey You have for me.  Show me the way.  Walk with me and give me Your strength.  Equip me to do my part.  Give me a vision for where we are going.  I am ready for Your adventure.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2004, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.