3 minute video

Moses is dead

Joshua 1:2-3 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them; the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”

This is our spot for this Sunday. It's funny how long I find myself meditating on the verses I will teach. As I read these first five words, "Moses my servant is dead" they echo in my head again and again. Like a diamond with a new sparkle it every turn, the phrase glistens with each angle we hold it at.

"Moses my servant is dead." How could these words come from almighty God? If Moses was a good servant why did God let him die? This question has been on many grieving lips. It brings up the question of death and tragedy. Why do bad things happen to good people? Many people have asked, "Why did you take them from me God? Why did you let them die?" We may never have answers that satisfy our broken hearts, but one thing stands out here; the inclusion of the two words "my servant." God could have said, "Moses is dead" and it would have been enough. But God calls Moses "My servant." It is in the present tense meaning Moses is still God's servant, only now in heaven.

God has servants on earth and He has them in heaven. Like any master, He has the right to move His workers from His fields to His house. Moses was just moved from earth to heaven. So God may take us home one day. He may bring a loved one that we enjoy out from the labor of this life into the rest of heaven.

The phrase "my servant" also tells us that God takes our service personally. Moses served the people but God didn't call him the "servant of the people." When you serve people in the name of God you serve God. That is the way He sees it and recieves it. When you give, He receives it. When you change that bedpan, God sees it. When you feed the poor, God thanks you. "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these you have don eit unto me." That makes things easier when people aren't grateful doesn't it? If I am serving God, who cares if anyone notices or gives me credit. God will reward me in the end.

This speaks of God's kindness to. Think of how gracious God is. What if God gave Moses perpetual life as the leader of Israel? Moses, the poor guy, would have worked forever serving an ungrateful people. Would it be fair to leave him working with no end? No, God in His goodness took Moses home. God knows we can't go on forever. We need rest. God takes us home so we can end our labor here on earth and enter the rest of heaven. Don't grow weary in well doing knowing that you will reap a reward.

Also, the painfully obvious truth here is that servants die. This teaches us that servants are needed. Servants don't live forever do they? I don't have any servants but our washing machine is a kind of servant. That poor thing moans and groans with every cycle. Soon it will die and go to laundry machine heaven. We will need to get a new one. God's people who serve are the same way. They move away, they get tired, they get sick, they even die. Servants need to be replaced. Moses is dead, so Joshua will be called to fill the void and step up to serve. There is always a need for servants because no one lasts forever. "Servants needed" could be a sign above our church doors. Do you serve God in church?

The most profound thing here is that Moses (the Law) will not lead us into the promise. God tells Joshua, "Arise and cross this Jordan." The picture here is simple. Religion with all its rules and regulations cannot get us into heaven. Moses can't bring you into the Promise Land. Only Jesus will. That is Joshua's name in Greek. God designed it so that the name of Moses' successor, the one who would lead them into territory and win victories that Moses couldn't, would be named Joshua the NT equivalent of Jesus. Joshua means "Jehovah Saves" and of Jesus the angel said "you shall call His name Jesus (Jehovah saves) for He shall save His people." Do you know what this means for us?

Jesus leads us into the promised land of victory and fruitfulness.

We have a tendancy to think that our entrance into God's blessing comes by rigid adhearance to Moses, but in reality, we enter into fruitfulness, that joy filled life, by Jesus. John 1 says "the law came through Moses but grace and truth come through Jesus." This means when I walk with Jesus --grace and truth-- I begin to posess all that God has for me. Religion wont do it. Rituals wont take me in. Ceremony and liturgy can't bring fruit into my life. Walking with Jesus enables me to take my inheritance.

I need to live under grace. That is, freely accepting God's forgiveness and not living under a cloud of defeat and depression until I feel worthy of forgiveness. Sometimes we feel as if we need to punish ourselves until forgiveness can come. It's like we say, "Move over Jesus, let me up on the cross so I can die for my own sins." We flagellate and afflict ourselves hoping that God will feel sorry for us and give us treats the way a father spoils a pouting child. Not the way into the promise land. No, receive grace. Accept forgiveness and walk with Jesus.

I also learn that walking with Jesus means dispensing grace toward others. We don't enter the blessing of God's promise with bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts. We can't really worship God if we are snarling at our brother. I used to travel through traffic to get to midweek church. By the time I got there I was so worked up by bad drivers that I could hardly sing to the Lord. I had to let it all go before I could enter His holy place. Jesus said "if you're about to offer something and you remember a problem with someone, go work that out first and then come make your offering." Don't let the sun go down on your anger. Been wronged? Let it go! You feel ripped off? Release it! You get the short end of the stick? Give them the whole stick. Freely you have received (forgiveness), freely give (forgiveness)."

When I begin to treat my wife and kids this way, with grace and forgiveness, I begin to taste a little bit of heaven in my home. It is the promised land. When I treat you like this and you me, we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit growing. Love joy and peace sprout up. Faithfulness goodness and patience start growing from our lives. Kindness gentleness and self control are soon harvested. We are walking with our Joshua and wherever He walks is given to us.

Walk with Jesus. Walk with Him in every area of your life. Stroll Him around your heart, your mind, your thoughts. Let Him walk around the aisles of your entertainment. Let Him survey the music you listen to and the movies you choose. If He wants to change anything, let Him. Let Him walk around your tongue and observe what you say and how you respond to people. He will start directing your language in such a way that your speech is changed. You will have grace and kindness like Him. Your words will bring healing and you will see His rich blessing in your marriage, your work, your parenting and your witness. Walk with our Joshua and you will have victory in every area of life.