Time to Go, Mo

O. T. #354  "Time to Go, Mo"
Sept. 1, 2014
Numbers 27
And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.  Numbers 27:12

LET IT GLOW

What a joyous day it will be when our church has its dedication service. It is coming soon. We have been at this same church 17 years, most of which we have struggled to accomplish God's purpose of building a new sanctuary. So far, it is debt free. Praise God! He did it! He has provided what we needed, the money, labor, materials, skills, leadership. The steeple was installed last week. Now it is a sanctuary and not just a metal building. It is coming soon. All we lack is the air and heating systems, ceiling tiles, concrete floor painted, restroom fixtures, stain-glass picture, and final painting of walls. Then it will be time to go-cross over our Jordan into the Promised Land. Get the trumpets ready.
I wonder if there was sadness at Moses leaving, as well as excitement of the new which lay before Israel.

We read in the first eleven verses about the detail of Zelophehad's five daughters get to inherit land that was due a son, which there was none. These were of the family of Manasseh, son of Joseph.

Liberty Bible Commentary says this about the situation:

The legal question described here vividly demonstrates God's impartiality and concern for womanhood. Unlike the pagan religions, which viewed females as mere slaves and sex objects, God looks upon both men and women as ...heirs together of the grace of life...(1 Peter 3:7). The legal problem was posed by five daughters of a man who had died in the wilderness without any sons. would these girls receive any land in Canaan? The answer from God was a resounding yes, resulting in a new law of inheritance whereby property could be transferred to daughters as well as sons.

Are we gracious women who show God's grace to others?

LET IT GROW

God took Moses, 120 years old by now, to Mt. Abarim, one of the peaks of Mount Nebo. It was located some 10-15 miles east of the northern end of the Dead Sea.
Why did Moses climb there?

1. It allowed Moses to view the Promised Land. (verse 12) Due to his rebellion of striking the rock for water and not speaking to it as God directed, Moses' punishment was not allowed to enter Palestine.
2. It was time for Moses to depart and name his successor. (verses 18-21)

With Moses gone, Israel was going to need a new shepherd to lead them and Joshua was God's chosen one.
No better choice could have been made. Joshua began his adult life as a military commander (Ex. 17:8-14) and would end up as the wisest of counselors (Joshua 23-24). (Falwell)

Before the congregation and priest Eleazar, Moses laid hands on Joshua and commissioned him to God's service. This eliminated any rumors about a power struggle between Moses and Joshua.

Details of Moses' death is recorded in Deuteronomy 34.
God gave Moses a life-fulfilling vision-he saw the land of Napthali, Ephraim and Manasseh, Judah, and even the Mediterranean Sea; the Jordan Valley and Jericho with palm trees. What a joy it must have been for Moses to look out over the dream of a lifetime.(Falwell)

Are there some promises which you are waiting on God to fulfill in your life? in your family's life?

It was 14 centuries later that Jesus saw Israel as sheep without a shepherd, in Matthew 9:36. He was the Great Promised Prophet (Deut. 18:15) with a similar heart concerning Israel.

LET IT GO

When God says it is time to go, go.

Hold onto His promises in the meantime.

Listen for the trumpet.