Confidence Amid Consequence

   Week 2: Abraham’s Covenant and Descendants

   Moses: Confidence Amid Consequence

December 10, 2022

Heather Carter

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”  Deuteronomy 32:4

 

We don’t often view Exodus as an exciting read, but it is so full of richness, relationship, and redemption. We have Moses whom we are told “the Lord would speak face to face, as a man speaks with his friends” (Exodus 33:11). We have a man whose leadership responsibilities seemed more an epic test of patience than privilege. We see a man Hebrews credits with great faith.

Moses’ life and legacy can be both daunting and inspiring. Hopefully, today will lean more towards inspiring! We see a man who knew God “face to face”, who lived in confidence of God- His holiness, His promises, His faithfulness. Yet, he was human: perfectly imperfect. He has some not so burning bush moments; moments in fact I wonder if he sought a bush to hide behind. While he was a man of great faith he also had some great failures which held grave consequences. 

Numbers 20 tells us the people were “gathered in opposition”, grumbling, and quarreling with Moses about a lack of water. Rightfully, Moses first falls face down before the Lord seeking direction. God faithfully provides and instructs him to speak to the rock (not hit it as he had been instructed in a previous incident). Whether what happens next reveals a deficit in listening, obedience, humility, patience, or something entirely different; we see Moses fell short.

God then exposes Moses’ lack of trust in and honor of God. Consequence ensued. Moses would not enter the promised land to which he’d physically spent years leading the people. Despite the consequences Moses didn’t turn from God. He continued forward in obedience. In Deuteronomy 32:1-4 we read “Moses’ Song”- one of praise and possibly defense of God’s judgment upon him. Despite the “rock” incident Moses calls God “the Rock whose ways are perfect”. 

God was faithful and gracious to Moses in allowing him to look upon the promised land prior to death. Moses made some poor choices but it didn’t negate his faith. It proved humanity’s depravity and God’s love and faithfulness!  

Even the one of great faith to whom God spoke face to face fell short. We fall short. But God, in all his faithfulness as the Promise Keeper was unwilling to leave us in our depravity. He would send the One who would not only allow us a glimpse of the promised land but would eventually open the gate allowing us entrance to the Promised Land with the Promised One. 

Our faith falters. His faithfulness frees. Our obedience often wanes. His obedience won. Our promises are fickle. His promises are forever. Thanks be to Jesus through whom it will one day be said, “the Lord speaks to us face to face as one speaks to a friend”!