A View Into the Land of Promise
A couple of weeks ago now we finished a sermon series called,
So you wanna go back to Egypt
In that series we used that generation of Israelites that Moses lead out of
Egyptian captivity to the Land of Promise
as our own personal metaphor for following God on the pathway of
holiness.
We discovered that the troubles and trials of the desert
test our resolve to stay true to God
refine the motivation of our hearts
and prepare us to face the challenges of conquering the
land of promise.
Today what I would like to do is take one more journey with Moses.
This time to Mt. Nebo.
From the vantage point of Mt. Nebo Moses will get to see the
promised land,
but as we will learn will not be allowed to enter it.
The promised land will become our metaphor for living a devout and
holy life.
We’ll describe what life is like in that place.
We will discover why Moses was barred from entry.
And I want you to leave here today with a determination that
you will enter into this new way of living, of living your
life to the full.
I think it was three years ago that I took an extra day at the Nazarene Bible College
Alliance for Ministerial Education Conference and played tourist.
The Bible college is in Colorado Springs,
The home of the Air Force Academy but what I was going to
explore Pike’s Peak.
Pike’s Peak is a 14,ooo foot mountain in the Rockies about 30 miles from
the city.
When I told some of the locals my plans for a visit
they asked if I was going to hike up?
I thought to myself, probably not in this life time.
Was I going to bike to the top?
That wasn’t going to happen either.
Well they said it’s a long drive up to the top or you can take the cog
railway.
Trains. Trains are fun.
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is about 9 miles long, takes an hour and half to
move those 9 miles.
Slow, but I can imagine how long it would have taken if I was
made to walk it. –never.
But there is a pay off to this slow trip, the scenery.
Ruxton Creek cascades down along the route,
Spruce and Ponderosa pine line the way,
And of course the wise conductor points out all the little
oddities like the faces in the giant boulders.
You eventually clear the tree line where its possible to see a Bighorn Sheep
or two.
I missed that sight but I did see a number of yellow-bellied
marmots.
By the way, did you know marmots whistle?
I was there in mid June, clear beautiful day, warm in the city,
But the higher the elevation, the colder it got,
I was glad a brought a sweat shirt.
When the train stops you’re at the top of Pikes Peak.
Its real easy to get short of breath.
They only recommend staying 30 to 40 minutes because that’s
about as long as most people can endure before they start
feeling the effects of high altitude sickness.
Oh but what a view.
To the east stretch the Great Plains
To the south the Sangre de Christo mountain ranges of New Mexico.
And I am told that on a smog less day you can see the Denver
skyline.
Its an incredible vista,
you can see for miles.
You get an overview of the land.
Mt Nebo is in the country of Jordan.
Not near as high as Pikes Peak, but given the topography of the Holy Land,
2600 feet affords a real good view.
I’m told that on a clear day you can look across the Jordan
River and in the distance see Jerusalem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLYv6cIYtI&feature=related
It is to this place that God tells Moses to go.
Deuteronomy 32:48-52 (MSG)
48 That same day God
spoke to Moses: 49 "Climb
the Abarim Mountains to Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, overlooking Jericho, and
view the land of Canaan that I'm giving the People of Israel to have and hold.
50 Die on the
mountain that you climb and join your people in the ground, just as your brother
Aaron died on Mount Hor and joined his people.
51 "This is because you
broke faith with me in the company of the People of Israel at the Waters of
Meribah Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin—you didn't honor my Holy Presence in the
company of the People of Israel.
52 You'll look at the land spread out before you but you won't
enter it, this land that I am giving to the People of Israel."
Not the best of Words the Lord can give someone.
I want you to go here and I want you to die.—sounds rather harsh.
Let’s take a look at the particulars of the demise of Moses.
I’ve told you that God is deadly serious about you and I living devout and holy
lives.
1 Peter 1:15-16 & Hebrews 12:14
(NIV)
But just as he who called you is
holy, so be
holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be
holy, because I am holy." “…without
holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Moses fell short.
Moses didn’t do what God wanted, the way God wanted it done.
Here’s what happened back in the desert:
Numbers 20:2-5 (NIV)
Now there was no water for the
community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They
quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead
before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that
we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to
this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And
there is no water to drink!"
So Moses does what he had learned to do,
He couldn’t provide water, but he knew that the LORD could.
Numbers 20:6-8 (NIV)
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly
to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the
LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your
brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes
and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the
community so they and their livestock can drink."
Now this hasn’t been the first time that Moses has had to deal with the whiners of
the wilderness.
Every time there was a difficulty he had to deal with people who
wanted to go back to Egypt.
This scenario has played out over and over and over
again.
Even God got tired of it, ran out of patience, and told Moses he was going to wipe
them all out and start all over again with Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 16:20-21 (NIV)
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
"Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once."
For any leader this kind of whining and complaining, and second guessing,
And lack of trust after so many times coming through for the people can just
eat your lunch and diner too.
Friends trust me it is hard to stay cool under that kind of stress.
To top it all off in the beginning of Numbers 20 we read that Miriam,
Moses’ big sister died recently right there is Kadesh.
That’s a lot of stress points to be carrying around with you.
So Moses is still grieving over his sister’s death,
The people are complaining,
God tells Moses to gather everyone,
Speak to the rocks, and water would gush out.
Numbers 20:9-11 (MSG)
Moses took the staff away from God's
presence, as commanded. He and Aaron rounded up the whole congregation in front
of the rock. Moses spoke: "Listen, rebels! Do we have to bring water out of this
rock for you?" With that Moses raised his arm and slammed his staff against the
rock—once, twice. Water poured out. Congregation and cattle drank.
Moses stuck the rock instead of speaking to the rock.
And God tells Moses and Aaron.
But more egregious Moses said,
“Do Aaron and I have to bring water out of the rock…”
Numbers 27:14 (NIV)
“…you disobeyed my command to honor me
as holy before their eyes."
Moses didn’t do God’s will the way God wanted His will done.
Moses failed to honor God,
Failed to give God His due before the people.
That lesson that God can provide was not taught because
Moses didn’t teach it.
1 Corinthians 4:2 & Luke 12:48 (NIV)
Now it is required
that those who have been given a trust must prove
faithful.
…From everyone who has been given much,
much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much
more will be asked.
Both Moses and Aaron will not get to enter into the Land of Promise because of
their disobedience.
40 years have gone by since Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt,
Only two of that original group will cross the Jordan into
The Land, Joshua and Caleb,
The rest die in the desert.
But God does reward Moses for his faithfulness through the years.
Moses is going to get to see what has been promised.
Deuteronomy 32: 52 (MSG)
You'll look at the land spread out
before you but you won't enter it, this land that I am giving to the People of
Israel."
One more little thought before we take a look into that land.
Death and God have an interesting relationship.
For us mortals death seems like the end.
When your breathing policy expires,
Six of your best friends are carrying you by the handles,
And soon you will be remembered over potato salad and
ham sandwiches in the Fellowship hall of your
local church.
To those surviving your demise, you are gone.
They don’t expect to see you back.
But God has a totally different view of death.
Something is going on in death that doesn’t reveal itself in the world we
know.
Moses dies on Mt. Nebo.
In the Epistle of Jude we have an interesting illustration
Jude 1:9 (NIV)
But even the archangel
Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did
not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord
rebuke you!"
Jude is quoting from an extra biblical writing called the Assumption of Moses.
In it obviously Moses is dead.
There is some heavenly issue going on about his remains.
So there seems to be no doubt that Moses is dead.
But dead to us and dead to God don’t mean the same thing because later we read:
Look who shoes up with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration--
Matthews 17:1-4 (MSG)
Six days
later, three of them saw that glory. Jesus took Peter and the brothers, James
and John, and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the
inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes
were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there
in deep conversation with him. Peter broke in, "Master, this is a great moment!
What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for
you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?"
Matthew, Mark and Luke, all reveal to us that Jesus has a conversation with
Moses.
So Moses may be dead, but dead is not dead to God,
Maybe that’s why the Psalmist can sing:
Psalms 116:15 (NIV)
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the
death of his saints.
So we have a mystery.
But one thing we can be sure of,
God is deadly serious about his children living a devout and holy life.
A failure to obey at a critical juncture disqualified Moses from
entering into the Land of Promise.
But Moses did get a view.
Let’s take a metaphorical view of the Land of Promise.
Just in case you weren’t an English major
A metaphor is a word picture that is used to symbolize
something.
For example: “A man is but a weak reed” is not to be understood literally,
it’s a word picture of a reality but not a literal reality.
Let’s look over with Moses into the Land of Promise.
Exodus 3:7-8 &
Deuteronomy 8:7-9 (NIV)
“…I have come down to … bring them …
into a good and spacious land, a
land flowing with milk and honey…For
the LORD your God is bringing you into a good
land--a land with streams and pools
of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a
land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and
honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land
where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
What does this land of promise sound like to someone who has been
oppressed and enslaved;
To someone who has been wandering in the wilderness of a long
while;
to someone who lives close to the earth and depends on
its gifts to survive?
Sounds pretty good don’t you think?
The Land of Promise is a place to thrive.
What does a person’s life look like when they have entered into that Land of promise?
Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)
So the Land of Promise is internal.
The Land of Promise concerns itself with the deep things of the heart.
Its out of a heart made right that we live in the Land of Promise.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (MSG)
I'll pour pure water over you and scrub
you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the
stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not
self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I
tell you and live by my commands.
The heart is the Bible’s way of referring to the command and control center of your
life.
You live out of your heart, you do the things you do because of the
attitudes, desires, values, motivation, and dreams of the heart.
In the land of promise your heart is focused on one thing and one thing only.
Matthew 22:37—
Those God have lead into the land of promise
“love
the Lord their God with all their heart,
with all their soul,
with all their mind, and with all their strength.”
This love for God is demonstrated first and foremost in their
obedience to do God’s will, God’s way.
The new attitude that guides their heart is:
“Not my will but Yours Father.”
One’s intention at all times and in all places is,
not to please self, but rather God.
Obedience is not motivated by fear or the desire for reward.
It motivated by love.
Its motivated by the intimacy of the fellowship that they
share with God the Father, God the Son and God
the Holy Spirit.
Their relationship with God is their most precious thing.
They would never willfully do anything that would somehow
deter, damage or destroy that relationship.
That relationship with God is a source of love and joy, security, and
intimacy.
It is the safe haven, the citadel of wisdom,
The fortress of protection,
The source of power to win wars.
In the desert that old heart was prone to wander,
Prone to leave God,
That old heart is gone.
There is a second part to Matthew 22:37
Matthew 22:37-39 (MSG)
Jesus said, " 'Love the Lord your God
with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important,
the first on any list.
But there is a second to set alongside
it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.'
No one lives in the Land of Promise alone.
It a communal life, where each is their brother’s keeper;
Where each looks after the interests of the other;
Where each is seeking to meet the need of the other,
Even at the cost of personal sacrifice.
In that community of love motivates all.
1 Corinthians
13:4-7 (MSG)
Love never gives up. Love cares more for
others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't
strut, Doesn't have a swelled head,
5 Doesn't force itself on
others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score
of the sins of others, 6 Doesn't
revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
7 Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going
to the end.
That’s what’s in this new heart.
No longer are their thoughts of malice, revenge and hatred.
No longer is their uncontrolled rage and destructive anger.
As far as it lies within us we want to live in peace and
harmony with everyone.
You are no longer motivated by the self sins.
self-centeredness, self-idolatry, self-bias,
self-will,
self-exaltation,
rather you choose to be the servant of others,
following the example of Jesus.
You’re quick to confront,
Quick to reconcile,
And quick to forgive.
You refuse to do anything that would deter, damage
or destroy a right relationships that you share with someone.
Instead you are constantly seeking to establish,
maintain, a grow more
intimate with others.
Galatians
5:22-23 (MSG)
We [possess]
a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a
conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves
involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to
marshal and direct our energies wisely.
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control” (Gal 5:22-23 (NIV)
characterizes the life of one living in the land of
promise.
You want to be inoffensive if that’s possible
You would rather be wronged than do wrong.
Sometimes its better to suffer fools than to be right.
You trust God to give you a discerning heart,
Because you refuse to dishonor God you want to confront and
correct error with the right words, at the right time so that
Satan has no opportunity to create strife and
division.
The strangest of
paradoxes is also encountered
As your love relationships grow and deepen and become more beautiful,
You realize at the same time how far short you fall from the glory of
God.
You see your progress in the spiritual life,
You’ve grown, you’ve matured, you’re learning,
But you also see more clearly those areas in
your life that fall short of glory of God.
If anything exists within you, any stubborn behavior that is contrary to
the law of love that rules your heart,
you’re seeking forgiveness and deliverance and healing
from it.
Living in the land of
promise is what I call living your life to the full.
It’s living a devout and holy life that is pleasing to God.
In the Church of the Nazarene we call the experience of leaving the
desert and entering the Promised Land as entire sanctification.
Let me see if I can
bring this all down into a couple of sound bites for you to walk
away with today.
When you will one
thing,
To love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength,
And you love your neighbor as yourself,
You’re living a devout and
holy life in the Land of Promise.
When the decisions you
make are governed by an inner disposition of
Not my will but yours Father,
You’re living a devout and holy life in the Land of Promise
When you are taking
captive every thought and making it obedient to Christ
(2 Cor. 10:5)
You’re living a devout and holy life in the Land of
Promise
Living this way is
accessible to every believer.
Its living the way God has always intended for you to live.
It is enjoying the blessings of righteousness.
It’s the prerequisite for taking your place as a warrior in the
Kingdom of God.
Christian, you don’t
have to live in the desert wilderness all your life,
Seek to enter the promised Land,
Make it the desire of your heart.
Ask God to lead you in,
To put that Spirit controlled heart in you.
Wait on God to do this work while you keep
trusting and learning and serving.
1 Thess
5:23-24 (NIV)
May God
himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole
spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he
will do it.