Finishing Well
Paula Payne
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
The Death of Moses1 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
7 Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. 8 So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. 9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
The Story of Moses – initial C.V...?
Positives: Member of the royal
household Highly educated Adaptable Begins to “wake
up” to justice issues
Negatives: Abandoned at birth Adopted / fostered as a
child Ethnic minority group A murderer A wanted criminal in his
home land A fugitive from the Law Turned to another religion? Made a lot of excuses
trying to avoid what God told him to do
Which list do you identify with more?
The Story of Moses – timeline
Roughly 3 x 40 years:
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
THE EXODUS
MIDIANEGYPT
What does your ‘timeline’ look like
so far?
Moses’ Journey...
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
THE EXODUS
MIDIANEGYPT
In conflict with
himself
Finding his purpose
Fulfilling his
purposeFinishes
well?
Moses Journeys with God... = Time speaking with the Lord up the mountain crying out to the Lord in the Tent of Meeting
Involves... honesty (e.g. Num.11) humility (Num.12:3)obedience
learnt the hard way (c.f. Ex.17 & Num.21)
Team Work
Belbin’s Team Roles
Implementer Shaper Plant Monitor/
Evaluator
Specialist Co-ordinator Team Worker Resource/
Investigator Completer/
finisher
Are you developing gifts and
habits to help you persevere?
Moses’ Defining Moment...
Context: Numbers 20:9-12Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it:
He didn’t believe the LordHe didn’t honour Him as holy in the sight of the people of Israel
The moment after this is Moses’
defining moment
Have you had a
defining moment?
Moses’ Response...
He doesn’t try to justify himself; he knows it’s true
He doesn’t become bitter and resentful
He continues to lead the people on the journey marked out for them
He continues to seek the Lord for the people and the way ahead
He continues to mentor the next generation (Joshua)
He takes them right to the edge of the Promised Land, i.e. as far as he can
Moses’ C.V. – the final version His still had vision He was still
pressing on for the purposes of God
There was no other prophet like him
The Lord knew him face to face
He moved in power and performed awesome deeds
He didn’t enter
into the Promised
Land...or did
he?
Our Response...
What did your initial ‘C.V.’ look like when you first met the Lord?
Have you had a defining moment? Many defining moments?
What does your ‘timeline’ look like so far?
If He could shape-up Moses, He can work with you!
Take some time to reflect with the Lord on where you are; ask Him about the next step...
How have you responded to it? Have you let it stop you? N.B. Galatians 5:7 - You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?Are you developing gifts and habits to help you persevere?
Decide today to change – small changes make a big difference. There is no substitute for spending time with the Lord
Final Word...
Deut.34:7Although Moses was
one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was
not dim, nor his vigor abated.
