Pisgah Peek

Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east.  Look at the land with your eyes, since you are not going to cross the Jordan.  But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you see.  ~ Deuteronomy 3:27-28

Years and years passed through Moses’ hands as he led the Israelites to the promised land - so much wandering, so much complaining, so much walking!  The land God is leading them to will meet all their needs, wants and expectations, but Moses will not be the one to get them across the finish line.  He rescued them out of Egypt, but he will not be the finisher of this race with them.  His race for the Lord will finish before they get there.  His job will be done.  We know that God is a good God, but when we disobey Him, there are still consequences.  In Numbers 20:10-13 Moses was commanded by the Lord to speak to the rock for flowing water; however, Moses struck the rock with his rod instead and so for his disobedience, God told him he would no longer be the one to cross the Jordan.  Instead, he was charged with encouraging, and strengthening Joshua and to pass the baton of leadership to him.  True godly leaders want to help, serve, encourage, pray for and uplift those coming up behind them growing in leadership.  Good godly leadership starts at the top and trickles down so that each leader is a good role model for the next.  Leadership should not be self-seeking, but God seeking.  Personally, I find this verse to be a bittersweet reminder - that even though we might not get to see the fruition of God’s promises here on earth, they will still happen.  God gives us glimpses of things ahead even if we won’t  see them happen with our own eyes.  I can continue to pray for deliverance of addiction for a loved one and know and trust God has them.  I can pray for my lost loved ones and know and trust God has them.  God’s work will continue somehow and somewhere from generation to generation in my family after I am long gone.   Most importantly, I can trust in God’s plan and remain faithful to the end whenever He decides my time is up.  I can trust that His plan is good even in dark times.  Greater things are always around the corner.  God’s promises are true for everyone even if I don’t get to see the completed picture here on earth.  I can’t imagine how Moses felt standing on top of Mount Pisgah looking over the Promised Land knowing he wasn’t going over.  Sadness.  Relief.  Unbelief that they finally made it.  Happiness.  Bitterness.  Humility.  Gratitude.  Whatever it was, I am also sure He wrestled with the fact that His time had come to an end.  He had finished his God given mission.  I am sure he felt the sovereignty and goodness of God.  May we all lead our families and friends into a relationship with God and hold on to His promises that everything will be okay.  Let us lead like Moses and trust in God’s plan for our lives and our families lives and pass the baton on. ~ Amen