Deliberately placing one foot in front of the other, he slowly began the trek up the mountain. Not for lack of strength. At the age of 120, he still had all the vim and vigor of a young man in his prime. His eyesight was good. His body was well. His mind was sharp. The climb would not be physically taxing, but emotionally so. It would be his final climb. Up any mountain. Anywhere. He would die here. He wasn’t excited about it. Those were simply the facts. He was spending the hike silently reminiscing about the fantastic journey of his life. It had been an amazing span of years. A lifetime of once-in-a-lifetime experiences. (Exodus 32:48-52; 34:1-8)
There had been a thousand of them. Unique experiences. Royal rescues. Palace visits. Threats of death. He’d seen amazing miracles. Fire that didn’t consume. Dust turned into gnats. Blood that halted the death angel in his tracks. He’d seen a lot of miraculous water rescues. Water turned to blood. Waves rolled back like scrolls. Drinking water flowing from solid rock. He’d done things he never thought he would. Stood up to Pharaoh. Led a group of recalcitrant people. Talked to God. Literally. To God. Himself. Personally. Words directly from God’s lips to Moses’ ears. He’d made mistakes along the way. Left the people with Aaron while he went up Mt. Sinai. Believed they would learn from their punishments. Thunked a rock with the staff when he should have spoken to it. The last one was the kicker. The biggest one. The most regrettable. Of all the things he’d seen, done, and walked through, he wished he could change that one. (Exodus 2-20, 31:12-34; Numbers 20:1-13)
The people had gotten to him. He’d let them. He was just so tired of their whining and complaining, the injustice of their allegations against him. They’d been at it practically since leaving Egypt. He’d tried to be long-suffering, enduring the verbal assault. Unfortunately, he’d had enough. He was over it. Over them. Done. Pulsating with frustration, Moses snatched up Aaron’s staff, stalked up to the rock, and smacked it. Water gushed out. Drinkable water for the people. Bitter drink for Moses. He had disobeyed God and it was going to cost him. He wouldn’t be entering the Promised Land. Wouldn’t get to enjoy the bountiful fruits, lush fields, and glorious harvests. He would get a peek from a distance, but his feet would never walk the streets. (Numbers 20:12)
It was a bitter pill to swallow. He’d done so much for God, for His people. He’d followed faithfully despite the pushback from the crowd. Up until this moment, he’d practiced singular obedience to God even when disobedience would have been easier. To be handed this sentence for one slip-up surely made Moses feel dissed and dismissed, like his work had been in vain. A lesser man would have quit on the spot. Thrown up their hands. Tossed the staff and crowd control over to Aaron. Stormed off in a rage at the unfairness. Not Moses. He wasn’t in this for the short time. He was there for the long haul. He was there to complete his God-given mission. He was going to stay the course, lead the people, and gain an eternal reward. Earthly rewards weren’t made to last. Moses knew that. Only eternal things have true longevity. Moses knew that, too. Most importantly, Moses knew his God was full of love and mercy, grace and forgiveness, power and strength. He knew his God was sovereign. He had witnessed the evidence throughout his life. He remembered it well. (Hebrews 11:24-29; Deuteronomy 3:23-27; Numbers 20:12)
Moses had a long memory. Looking back over his life, he could see the hand of God protecting, leading, guiding, nudging, pushing, prodding. From the bulrushes to the palace, God was there. During the flight to the desert, the tending of the flock, God was there. When the bush caught fire and God sent him on a different mission, the presence of God never left his side. He’d watched the miraculous hand of the Almighty move and work, preserve and provide over and over again through the decades of his life. He’d watched God write his story and knew He was the author and orchestrator of every event both good and bad. He knew the truth of the words that would later be penned by a New Testament writer. God works through every circumstance and situation to bring about good for His people. Moses knew it. He’d seen it. He remembered it well. (Romans 8:28)
Every guiding moment. Every protective hand. Every rule and law and command made to preserve his soul. Moses knew them all. Remembered them well. Had shared them with his people. Knowing he wouldn’t always be there to tell them right from wrong, to remind them of God’s work on their behalf, to send them into battle or command them to withdraw. Realizing he wouldn’t always be around to communicate with God for them, speak His blessings over them, or reiterate His promises to them. Understanding the people would forget or disregard the things he’d taught them, Moses had stood up before them and given them a message before embarking on this final hike. An important message. An urgent message. One they would need to repeat to their children and their grandchildren. Remember well. Everything. Every miracle. Every rescue. Every provision and promise. Hone your memories. Remember who God is and how He has supported you throughout your lives. Remember how He has narrated your story. And trust Him to continue the book. (Deuteronomy 7:17-21; 31:24-29)
They were going to need to remember it. Moses would no longer be there steering them back into the paths of righteousness when discomfort led to discontent. He wouldn’t be there when the sunlight gave way to shadows, the expected victory was actual defeat, the group of defectors was greater than the group of dedicated followers. He wouldn’t be there to encourage them. They would have to encourage one another. From here on out, they would need to rely on their own memories of God’s greatness, His power, His authority. They would need to remember His promises and trust Him to never fail, never change, never leave. They would also need to remember to do their part. Keep their covenant with God. Be obedient. Remember what happened when they didn’t. Remember that obedience is better than sacrifice.
It was a truth they should have known. Very well. Their straying and covenant-breaking had cost them more than once. Their grumbling against Moses and Aaron cost 14,700 lives to a plague. Their speaking out against God and Moses brought venomous snakes and death into their camp. Their broken covenant, immorality, and aligning themselves with foreign gods brought down yet another plague costing more than 20,000 lives. These people were not ignorant of the high cost of disobedience. They knew it well. Remembered it. They also knew the blessing of full obedience, blind following, complete trust in the sovereignty of their God. As He led them out of captivity in Egypt, faith had kept them trudging. Walking between frighteningly high water walls. Utterly dependent on Him for sustenance. Completely at the mercy of His guiding fire and cloud. They knew it was only by His might and power they safely stood where they were that day. And they needed to remember it well. (Numbers 16:41-50; 21:4-7; 25:1-9; I Corinthians 10:8-10)
Times were coming when they would need to rely on what they knew about their God to bolster their faith and strengthen their resolve. Temptations and trials would plague their paths. Their traitorous hearts would long for the things of the world. Some of them would slip away, fall into sin. The only way to preserve their souls and gain the eternal reward Moses would soon attain was to remember what they knew about God. Remember His faithfulness. Remember that He answers when they call. Remember that He rushes to their aid when they are in trouble, trial, distress, dismay. Remember that He saves them. From their enemies. From themselves. Remember His magnificent mercy. Remember that His love is steadfast. It doesn’t change. Ever. Neither does His word. It is always the same. He doesn’t say things He doesn’t mean. He doesn’t make promises He doesn’t keep. He never fails or forgets His people. He is God. He is Sovereign. They belong to Him. They needed to remember it well. (II Thessalonians 3:3; Psalm 18:3; 36:5; 100:3; 102:27; Lamentation 3:22-23; Deuteronomy 7:9; 33:26-27; Proverbs 30:5-6)
So do you. You, too, will face trials and tribulations, hardships and havoc that beat against your soul tempting you to turn back, turn aside, turn away from following God. In the middle of the darkness that threatens to capsize your soul, you need to remember your God. Remember all the times He’s brought you through the desert, the wilderness, the dry land where it seemed there was nothing to feed your soul. Remember how He sustained you, fed you, hydrated your drought-ridden heart. Remember the unwinnable battlefields onto which He stepped and brought you victory. Remember the times He’s carried you, sustained you, protected you, provided for you. Remember that His love never fails. Ever. His grace is sufficient. Always. His strength is perfect and available. Every moment of every day. Remember His presence is continual, His promises are trustworthy, His power cannot be defeated. Remember that you are His. His child. His sheep. Treasured. Precious. He delights in you. He will never leave you alone to figure out the journey. He’s your God, your Father. You can trust Him. Remember it well. (I Corinthians 10:12-13; Psalm 23; 36:5,7,9-10; 145:13-14; II Corinthians 1:20; 12:9; Matthew 28:20; Isaiah 14:27; 64:7; I John 4:4; Zephaniah 3:17)
Gratitude!