Verse for the Day, 27 July 2016.

Numbers 27:12-23, “The LORD said to Moses, "Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel.  (13)  When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,  (14)  because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)  (15)  Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,  (16)  "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation  (17)  who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd."  (18)  So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.  (19)  Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight.  (20)  You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.  (21)  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation."  (22)  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation,  (23)  and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses.”

Reading Numbers 27:12-23, produces mixed emotions. Having worked our way through Exodus, Leviticus and now Numbers, it is as though Moses has become a close friend. We have walked with him through his life. We have rejoiced with him as God preserved him, raised him up and used him to bring the people out of Egypt. We marvelled with him as God displayed His immense power, and rejoiced with great relief once the people made it safely through the sea. Along with Moses we have grown weary of the constant complaints made by the stubborn and selfish Israelites. We have been angry on his behalf when the people engaged in idolatry and sympathised with him. We have greatly envied Moses, when he was given that unique glimpse of God’s glory. We have shared so much with Moses, and he is a man we have grown to admire. But like all men, Moses’ time has come and soon he will pass from this life to the next. Now a successor needs to be appointed, to take up Moses’ role.

Whilst we are saddened to seen Moses’ departure and coming death, we are encouraged by the establishment and commissioning of Joshua to be the new leader of Israel. Joshua has already proved himself to be a valiant, courageous, God-fearing man, who seeks to do what is right in God’s sight. Joshua has been following in Moses’ footsteps pretty much since they left Egypt. God has been preparing Joshua for this work, and now the time has come to take over from Moses.

We can be certain that Moses would have been pleased, encouraged and even hopeful for the future of Israel, with the appointment of Joshua. He knew Joshua better than any other, and would have known he was the right man for the job.

Like Moses, Joshua would be greatly tested and he too would have to deal with the complacency and sinfulness of the people. But with God’s presence, wisdom and approval, Joshua would be able to lead well.

Thus, the chapter ends, with Joshua commissioned as the new leader of the people, Moses has handed over the reins of leadership. This new generation now stands on the brink of the Promised Land, with a new and God-appointed leader. It is a picture of hope for the future, as men will come and go, will be born, rise up, fade away and die, but God remains the same, unchangeable and eternal. Therefore, as long as God is alive, as long as God’s man is allowed to lead the people, there will be hope for the nation of Israel. At this point in time, the future for Israel looks bright, full of promise and potential. God has led through Moses, and now that Moses’ time of departure has come, doesn’t mean that God will depart with Moses. God has appointed a new man, He has set His seal, His approval, His authority upon Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land.

This chapter teaches us once more about the wisdom, goodness and grace of God. He truly has all things in control, and His power extends to both today and tomorrow, in fact for eternity to come. He is the one who preserves, saves, raises up, appoints, equips, uses and then takes to be with Him. He holds all things in His omnipotent, wise and goods hands. The challenge for us is to adopt the attitude of Moses. We see in this chapter that Moses did not look to himself, nor did he regard himself as the true leader of Israel, and certainly not as the king. He knew that God was the leader and king, in fact if God had not worked in the manner that He did, Moses would still be herding goats and sheep and the people of Israel would still be enslaved. It was all God, and none of Moses. We see this reflected in Moses, as Moses doesn’t choose who should replace him, he doesn’t even give himself a share in making the decision. He asks for God to lead, and to appoint this new man.

Here is the challenge for us; who are we looking to as the ultimate leader, ruler and king of our own lives? We who are believers in Christ, submitted ourselves to the complete lordship, authority of Christ at that moment of conversion. We claimed Christ as our king, and gave Him the exclusive right to rule over and lead our lives. Yet how often do we find ourselves engaged in a power struggle with God. We want the right to ‘veto’ and to be consulted, to have a say, sometimes the final say in our choices and decisions. We don’t look to God as our one and only, our exclusive God, Lord and King, nor do we always regard His word as being the final authority. We need to learn to walk in Moses’ footsteps, understanding our position before God and therefore adopting the appropriate attitude, manner position and service. Living in this manner is to walk the pathway to blessing, it is for our highest good, it is for the benefit of the Church, it serves the Kingdom purposes of God, and brings greater glory to God. As a believer we should not want anything more than this.

Almighty God, Your ways are higher than ours and Your wisdom is infinitely greater. We thank You that You are God of time and God of all, for there are no safer, greater or more gracious hands than Yours. Forgive us for the times when we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to, and think we have the wisdom, strength and ability to live without You. Help us to submit to You as our one and only God, King and ruler of our lives. May we faithfully, daily, look to You, to lead us and follow You so as to bring glory to Your name. Amen.