Deuteronomy 3:26 “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord said to me: ‘Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.

One of the challenges of being a teacher (or a parent with more than one child) is that you have to a have a good memory. If you don’t, the kids will always be ‘helping’ you with friendly reminders that start with, “but last time…” They will remember how you treated others in a previous circumstance. Coming up with a new ‘form of justice’ for each situation is a recipe for trouble!

The Israelites had left Egypt, come to the Promised Land, refused to obey and take the Promised Land and therefore wandered in the desert for forty years, and were back at the very edge of the Promised Land again. It was time to go in and this time they were ready! But Moses was troubled and went to the Lord in prayer. Usually when he prayed it was for the needs of the people. But this time was different. He was pleading with the Lord that he too might go in to the Promised Land.

God not only said ‘No’, but told Moses, “Don’t even ask again!” That seems kind of harsh, doesn't it? Hadn’t Moses done a pretty good job leading the Israelites? Hadn’t he obeyed God pretty much all the time? Shouldn’t that count for something? But Moses had disobeyed God (Numbers 20). Because of his disobedience God had told him he would not enter the Promised Land. Should God change His mind now? All of the people that were going to enter the Land were entering as orphans - their parents had died in the wilderness when God said they would not enter the Promised Land. How would they feel if God made an exception for Moses? They wouldn’t be able to trust His word ever again!

We may not like it, but God keeps His word. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” God won’t make exceptions because a person has done a pretty good job with their life. Obeying God pretty much in everything won’t matter at all if we try to come to Him in some other way than through Jesus. Jesus is the only way! We can trust His Word because He always keeps it!

Blessings,

Pastor Russ