Rev. Don Campbell
Deuteronomy 32-34
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, March 22, 2019
“DIVINE JUXTAPOSITION”
The opening line of Charles Dickens’ novel “The Tale of Two Cities” is a classic example of juxtaposition: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way …”
The death and the eulogy of Moses are juxtaposed in such a way that we can draw lessons and hope from their placement. On his final day on earth, Moses went up to the top of Mount Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho and God showed him the land to which he had brought the people. The Lord said, “I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there” (Deuteronomy 34:4). Although he was 120 years old, his eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated, he died, and God buried him. He who had given so much was kept out of the promised land because of speaking rashly with his lips (Deuteronomy 32:51; Psalms 106:32-33)
What God said to Moses is juxtaposed by an inspired writer with the following eulogy: “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)..
Many leaders who have tried to lead even a small band of believers to spiritual maturity can look back on some rash eruptions of anger from their mouths, provoked by sin and indifference. Most, if honest may, in retrospect, point to mistakes in judgment. They may fear that they will hear Jesus say, “Depart from me, you unprofitable servant.” Paul helps us lay this fear to rest: “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
Bad decisions may limit our production as Christians, but bad decisions are not rebellion. Moses made a bad decision and didn’t get to enter the promised land, but his place in heaven is not in question (Hebrews 11:16). Those who provoked his spirit to speak rashly were in rebellion against God and lost not only their place in the promised land but their place in the Promised Land.
CONNECTIONS Matthew 7:24-27, 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
1. We are all builders, according to Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27). An exercise that can bring hope and despair is to sit down with a piece of paper with a line down the middle. Label “Rock” and the other “Sand.” Under the proper heading, list the things you are doing (or have done) in life that will be swept away in judgment and the things that will stand. Into which are you putting the most effort?
2. Would you agree with “Mother Teresa” that “God does not require that we be successful only that we be faithful”? If you have trouble deciding, see 1 Corinthians 3:5-9).
