May the mumbling commence!
Sometimes, it is amazing the myopic vision we have. When we look at the sins of other people, we tend to blame them for their own sin. However, when we look at our own failings (notice I did not say sins), we tend to blame them on outside contributing factors. Moses was no different. Read from the end of Deuteronomy chapter three:
"At that time I said to Joshua, 'You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. He will do the same to all the kingdoms on the west side of the Jordan. Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.'
At that time I pleaded with the Lord and said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, I am your servant. You have only begun to show me your greatness and power. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great deeds as yours? Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.'
"But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. ‘That's enough!' he ordered. ‘Speak of it no more. You can go to Pisgah Peak and view the land in every direction, but you may not cross the Jordan River. But commission Joshua and encourage him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them the land you now see before you.' So we stayed in the valley near Beth-peor.” (Verses 21-29)
We would hope that our spiritual leaders would be immune to our faults… our sins. But they aren’t. Moses pleaded with the Lord to be allowed to see the Promised Land. Moses was not even confident enough to call it the Promised Land. He called it the wonderful land. “Please,” Moses said. I can almost hear him say, “Pretty please, with sugar on top.”
But the Lord did not change His mind. God had already told Moses that we would not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12). Moses tried to blame it on the people of Israel, but that was not the reason that the Lord forbade Moses and his brother Aaron from entering into the Promised Land.
Yes, Israel was complaining about the lack of water. Yes, Moses and Aaron went to the Lord for the answer. The Lord gave them the answer. They approached the people of Israel with the answer, but Moses, in his frustration with the people, struck the rock twice. So? The Lord had commanded him to speak to the rock, and Moses did not. It was this lack of faith that prohibited Moses from entering the Promised Land – not the people.
Our spiritual leaders are important. There is no doubt in my mind. These leaders are given much responsibility and knowledge. They are held to a higher level of accountability. They have climbed high, so they have much further to fall than other Christians. But that doesn’t totally make the entire body of Christ accountable. Read from Luke chapter twelve:
Peter asked, "Lord, is this illustration just for us or for everyone?"
And the Lord replied, "I'm talking to any faithful, sensible servant to whom the master gives the responsibility of managing his household and feeding his family. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I assure you, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and begins oppressing the other servants, partying, and getting drunk – well, the master will return unannounced and unexpected. He will tear the servant apart and banish him with the unfaithful. The servant will be severely punished, for though he knew his duty, he refused to do it.
But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.” (Verses 41-48)
Jesus told us to be ready for the return of our Master – of Lord Jesus. And this time in the church year is all about waiting – Advent. Will we use our knowledge and the responsibility that it brings well? Or will we decide the Lord is late in coming and have fun at the expense of other people?
If we do well, nothing that is the Lord’s will be held back from us. If we do poorly, our punishment will be severe.
So, let’s turn our myopic inaction into faithful and active waiting.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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