The Final Look
This blog post is Part 34 of a series entitled "From Fear To Freedom" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN.
Message Date: November 17, 2024
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If you were to bring the entirety of this study down to one verse, one very difficult verse that describes the disappointment Moses felt above all other disappointments in this story, what would you say was Moses’ greatest moment of disappointment? Think about the so very many moments of disappointment in this man’s life... For example, imagine the moment at which a young Moses realizes he is not living with his birth family. Imagine this conversation between Moses and his Egyptian mother. We do not know when this realization took shape in Moses’ life, but we know it did. Because Scripture reveals in Exodus 2:11 that one day Moses went out to where his own people were and “watched them at their hard labor.” Such a moment must have been so disappointing, and quite confusing, to a young boy. Envision a young Moses sitting in his adopted mother’s lap asking her: “Mom, why am I so different than everyone else in Egypt?” I imagine it was at this moment when the Pharaoh’s daughter, his Egyptian mother, proceeds to explain to Moses of the morning she drew him out of the waters of the Nile.
I postulate that one of the very next disappointments for Moses is him asking, “Mother, may I go and live with my Hebrew family?” I presume these are just a few of the first of many, so very many, disappointing moments in the life of Moses. There had to be so very many unspoken moments of disappointments as Moses matures into his teen and young adult years, walking out of the palace often among his people, the Israelites, seeing their persecution... yet, knowing there is nothing he can do about the brutality under which they are surviving. Then, after having seen enough of this inhumanness, such disappointments manifest into anger – and Moses commits murder. Immediate disappointment!
Imagine the long journey away from Egypt... most likely taking Moses several weeks to arrive in Midian. I would think that almost every night, lying there under the stars, was a long night of disappointment, as Moses assumed he would never again see neither his Egyptian nor Hebrew families. Think about those long nights... realizing he had the world at his fingertips. He was most likely being groomed to be the next King of Egypt. And he lost it all. Over the next 40 years, Moses would find love, settle down, and begin a career herding sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro. I wonder how very many days and nights out in the fields with the sheep, when Moses would find himself reminiscing over the 40 years of prestige living in the palace of the most powerful man on the planet. I have to believe during these 40 years in the fields, there were often moments when Moses was consumed with disappointment.
And then, 40 years later, journeying back to Egypt after receiving the call from the Lord to go and stand before the King of Egypt. Excitement? Absolutely! Nervousness? Of course! But too, disappointment with the assumed prospect of never again returning to live in Midian. Upon returning, how disappointing must it have been, on his journey back to Egypt to watch as his wife, Zipporah, cut off their son’s foreskin at their lodging place and then throw it at his feet! That had to be pretty disappointing, and a little messy, to clean that off of his sandals! But seriously... watching as his wife and children travel out of site... disappointing beyond words.
Every time, 10 times in all, as Moses stood before Pharoah, even though God had warned Moses that He would harden Pharaoh’s heart, Moses undoubtedly would leave the palace each time extremely disappointed... and, as we discovered last week, more and more angry! The Bible records that on 15 different occasions during their journey to Cannan, the Israelites complained to Moses, “We wish you had let us stay in Egypt to die!” I presume this happened so very many more times than documented in the Holy Scriptures. And I too suppose that each time Moses heard these stinging words, he felt immense disappointment. Then there is the time he comes off of the mountain to see God’s people worshipping a golden bull. Furious disappointment! Thus leading to the moment, in anger, when Moses breaks the two tablets. Regrettable disappointment!
Can’t you see Moses, on so very many nights during his 14,600 nights in the wilderness journeying with God’s people to Cannan, lying sleepless in his tent, replaying so very many disappointments over and again in his mind? Over the course of 40 years, I deduce that there were countless moments of excruciating and humbling and agonizing disappointments! All of these moments, coupled with the many, many more unmentioned ones, are indescribably disappointing to Moses. Yet... I am confident, each of these moments collectively are not anywhere as disappointing as this one...
Numbers 27:12-14
Wow! What a blow this must have been for Moses to hear these words from the God who has now led him on this 40 year journey. Of course, God had already told him that he would die for his actions at the Waters of Zin. But I do wonder if Moses was hoping that a gracious God would forget or show compassion on Moses for all the good things Moses had done, or just simply change His mind. God did none of these things.
How did this come to be? After all of this time walking by faith, hand in hand with God...How does Moses forfeit being able to take this final step out of the wilderness and into the land promised to the people of God? Well, it happened because of this one word: Disobedience. And it is in this most atrocious act of disobedience where, once again, as we studied last week, Moses’ anger surfaces one final time!
Let’s briefly look at this consequential moment in greater detail, for I am confident that by the time Moses arrives at the Desert of Zin with the nation of Israel after 40 years in the wilderness, he is mostly at his emotional end with these “stiff necked” people. He is at his tipping point. Watch carefully what happens... and keep in mind that anger has often won in so very many previous moments with Moses! The people are tired. Consumed with fear. In need of water. And once again, a gracious God is about to provide.
Numbers 20:7-8
Once again, God is about to do the supernatural for these people who have done nothing but complain. Sadly, Moses, lets his anger get the best of him again:
Numbers 20:9-11
Yes! Water. The people rejoice! They drink to their hearts fill. Yet, unfortunately, this much needed nourishment comes at a very high price for Moses... all because, as we discussed last week, his anger precedes his obedience.... Yes, Moses has every right to be frustrated with these people! After all, they have mostly complained since day one of their journey from fear to freedom. But here is where we have to be clear y’all. As a follower of the Christ:
No matter the actions of others; no matter how frustrated you become at the utter disdain others have toward a Holy God; and no matter how well your intentions... God has set the highest of standards for you to obediently follow Him with every choice, at every step, and in every way with your life. And with God, all of the good deeds of your life cannot and will not eclipse your disobedience.
Numbers 20:12
Wait! What? Are you serious? After all of this; after 40 years; after the moment at the burning bush; after the willingness to leave home, and wife, and children and career; after journeying back to the place in which Moses was a wanted man; after standing faithfully in front of the King of Egypt; after the Exodus; after the crossing of the Sea; after the many battles won; after 40 days on the mountain of God; after the revealing of the Ten Commandments; after the assembly of the Tent of Meeting; after the erecting of the first Tabernacle; after defeating enemy after enemy; after leading 2 million plus people across a dry desert land; after the so very many acts of courage and faithfulness and leadership and character and loyalty... after all that Moses has done right... this man of God, this one called out of the wilderness and into the greatest position of leadership over the entire nation of God’s chosen people... is God serious? Is God really going to bury the body of this man on the other side of the land promised to His people? Yes. God is serious. Very serious. Dead serious. You see Church...
The ultimate step, and often the most very difficult step, from fear to freedom... Obedience. And disobedience, though often excused and tolerated and even justified by man is never approved by a Holy God.
Y’all, there is always a consequence to sin, even with God’s chosen. The Bible tells us that on three separate occasions, Moses went back to plead with God. But, God has already made up His mind. Here is that final exchange between the two:
Deuteronomy 3:23-26
How so very disappointing to Moses. How heartbroken Moses must have been! After all of the faithfulness and trusting and difficulty and frustration and loneliness and exertion, God tells Moses, “No!” And He then... commands Moses to go to the highest point in this region, and to do this. Talk about pouring salt on an open wound:
Deuteronomy 3:27
What must that view have been like? Imagine how beautiful this site must have been to Moses... to gaze across the Jordan and to see the land so rich and green and vibrant and beautiful as far as this, now 120 year-old man, can see! As I had this thought this week about Moses, I cried. I cried for Moses. I cried realizing his life ambition was not what he had thought it to be, was it? Moses thought he was the one called to journey with the people into “... the land, a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey,” but he was not! Read this first exchange again that God has with Moses speaking to him through a bush on fire in the desert:
Exodus 2:8-10
Because we know how the story ends, and we too know so very many moments along the way, both celebratory and too so very disappointing for Moses, as humans, we hope so very much that Moses will in fact get to step foot into this most amazing land. But from the onset, from the very first proclamation God makes to Moses speaking to him on the Mount of Horeb through a burning bush, God never, ever tells Moses that he will be the one to journey into the land with the nation of Israel! Here on the mountain, speaking to Moses through flames, He never once promises Moses entrance into the good and spacious land.
Why? Because before the story ever begins, God knows how the story will end. God too knows how the story will end because God knows, before the story ever begins, how the story will unfold decision by decision, step-by-step, and day by day, with Moses. Look again at this passage and notice what God specifically tells Moses he will do:
Exodus 3:9-10
Notice God does not say Moses is to bring God’s people into Cannan, the Promise Land. He is instead to bring them out of Egypt. And too, let me show you who is to ultimately lead them into this land. Do you notice who? God is very clear. Look again at verse 8:
Exodus 3:8
Do you see this? God says that He is the One who will lead them into this new land! Now let me ask you a question… “If you had worked hard, extremely hard; sacrificed more than you had ever sacrificed in your life; set a goal; had aspirations; given to something everything that you have; and then, when the goal is finally right there in front of you... You realize it will never come to be; you will never see your goal, your dream, realized... How would you respond?”
I can be honest in saying... I am not so sure that I would not be furious; bitter; resolved to fight back with everything that I have... Remember, Moses is a man who has dealt with anger mostly all of his adult life. The obvious response, human response, we expect to see and hear from Moses is anger. However, we see the exact opposite from Moses. How? How can this man do a 180? Back at Pisgah in Deuteronomy 3, after looking out across the land over the Jordan onto which he will never step, how can Moses ever come down off of this mountain not in possession of immense anger?
I am of the belief that on this mountain and in this very moment, while gazing across the Jordan, in this “final look” over the land of freedom, Moses changed. Moses stopped being angry. Moses received the message God gave to him and he came off of this mountain as a different man – a changed man – a new man... A man finally letting go of all of his anxieties... A man free of his anger... A man finally at the end of his personal journey from fear to freedom. I want to remind you, Church:
With God, it is never too late to become the person God has made you to be.
Now, I want to show you something as we close this morning that, up until this moment in Scripture, has never happened. Ever! I am most excited to show you something that has yet to happen in the entirety of God’s Word and to God’s people! In Moses’ final message to God’s people, humanity is offered something from the Holy Lord of which they have never been offered... ever! And it’s an eternal game-changer!
Any idea of this “something” of which I speak? You see... up until this point in the story of God’s plan for all of humanity to receive eternity and to find peace on their journeys from fear to freedom, His people have only embraced one mindset; one mantra; one posture. What is this to which I refer? Well, quickly see if this helps you get to the right answer:
Exodus 20:18-19
Do you see it? It’s what? It is: fear! Up until this point in their journey, the Israelites have held one position with the Holy God: Fear! But, again, for this first time in the history of time on earth, God is about to offer to His people a new posture – a new position in which they may take in order to know Him, receive Him, and walk freely in Him! Moses looks out across the Jordan. Then comes down off of the mountain, and he delivers one of the most passionate and direct messages ever delivered in all of the Holy Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Did you hear it? Do you see it? Moses offers something to humanity never before offered! For the first time in all of time, God’s people are given the opportunity and privilege to:
Love God in return!
What? Wait a minute! Really! Really! Can God’s people truly move from a position of fear in their lives to a position of loving God with their lives? Yes! Moses says to the people, “Love God!” And... do not merely love Him like you have loved your families, your careers, your possessions, your status, nor merely your wealth. No! “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength!” Right here in Deuteronomy 6, for the very first time, God invites His people, all people, to make the choice to love Him; to love Him with every part of their being!
Remember how I have continually reminded you that these truths which Moses taught to God’s people are repeated again and again, over and over, throughout the Holy Scriptures from this point forward? Well, look at this... hundreds of years later... Jesus Himself is asked a critically important question... read His response:
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:34-38
Jesus confirms all of these years later precisely what it is that Moses tells God’s people right before they are to cross over the Jordan into Cannan. What powerful words for the nation of Israel and too for us as His people today. In this one statement from Moses, everything changes for God's people from this moment forward! Their God, the Jehovah God, the God who has led them out of Egyptian captivity, has journeyed with them for 40 years, and is now giving them the very land He promised as they begin their new life as a nation, a free nation, as His nation... and if this were not enough, now, this very same Almighty God who has said all along the He loves them... He is now asking them to love Him in return!
You see this is such an unorthodox statement of which the nation of Israel has never heard before. Keep in mind... They, and their ancestors, have spent 400 years under Egyptian captivity. This means that, for 400 years, these people have only been told that the 2000+ false god's worshiped in Egypt were distant gods; untouchable gods; unapproachable gods; gods with whom they had no right to speak, or even speak of their very names. They have been taught that these gods are to be revered, so much so, that even mentioning their names, is blasphemy and is cause for death. And now these people have just been told by Moses, their leader...
This God, Jehovah God, and now, your God, loves you so very much, that He desires for you to love Him in return.
Yes, still possessing a fear toward him… but a different kind of fear - - A holy fear that too is a reverence; A holy fear that too is a relationship; A holy fear that too is a receiving... A receiving of life, of forgiveness, of hope, of mercy, of grace, of power, and, of love. This is how Moses can then say this to God’s people:
Deuteronomy 6:20-25
Do you see what God is doing here, y’all? He is telling the nation of Israel that freedom, true freedom, comes only through righteousness. And the only way to truly be made right in God’s eyes will require that humanity be changed; saved; born again! Ultimately, this will require that a new Covenant be made between God and man! Moses is setting the stage for the Messiah who will one day come – the new covenant – with the law still on their minds, but too with this love written on their very hearts... The love of Jesus, the Messiah, who will come to redeem one final time His people from the slavery of sin and death; the love that will forever allow His people to truly receive the life from fear to freedom.
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Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.