Filling The Shoes Of Moses Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

Moses and the Land (vs 12-14).

Moses and Joshua (vs 15-23).

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

George was 28 years old, single, and still living with his parents.

• One Sunday morning, George told his mother he wasn’t going to church.

• "First," he said, "I’m tired. Second, the people there don’t like me.

• And third, the sermons are dull."

But George’s mother wouldn’t take no for an answer. "George," she said, "you have to go.:

• First, we always worship on Sunday.

• Second, it doesn’t matter whether they like us or not.

• And third, you are the pastor!"

• God has always had some rather reluctant leaders.

• And Joshua who will takes over from Moses as the new leader was no exception!

We pick up the story when Moses is 120 years old:

Ill:

You know that you are getting old when:

• When everything that works hurts, and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.

• Your try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren’t wearing any.

• You look forward to a dull evening.

• Your knees buckle and your belt won’t.

• When your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio.

• You sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it going.

• You sink your teeth into a good steak and they stay there.

• You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.

• Not only is Moses 120 but he is still physically strong;

• No complaints with his health – as far as we know - not even arthritis!

• But Moses learns in this chapter that his time is up!

• God has decided that it is time for Moses to move on:

• Moses will soon be ‘Promoted to Glory’.

• That is a great term used by The Salvation Army to describe the death of a Salvationist.

Ill:

• Shortly before his death, ’Mahatma’ Gandhi wrote,

• "All about me is darkness; I am praying for light."

• Contrast this with 18th century American evangelist D. L. Moody;

• His last recorded words: "This is my triumph; this is my coronation day! It is glorious!"

• Well as you will discover next week when Moses physically dies;

• Death for him will be a: "…triumph; …coronation day! …glorious!"

(1). MOSES AND THE LAND (VS 12-14).

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. 13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honour me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)”.

• As we have noted in previous studies (Numbers 20:1-13);

• Because Moses and Aaron had not honoured the Lord at Meribah;

• They were not permitted to enter the Promised Land with the new generation of people.

If you were not here for that study, let me remind you of Moses sin;

• First: Moses sinned in striking the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded:

• It was the sin of disobedience.

• Second: Moses himself took the credit for providing the water:

• It was the sin of pride and he was taking for himself some of God’s glory!

• As a result of Moses & Aaron’s foolish actions:

• God allowed Moses to see the Promised Land;

• But told him he would not enter it!

Note: God was NOT being cruel to Moses:

Ill:

• Cruel would be showing a hungry dog a huge T-bone steak;

• Then giving it to another dog to eat while he watches longingly!

Ill:

• Cruel would be a young man falling in love with beautiful woman;

• Only to be told she is going to marry someone else!

I do not believe that is what God is doing here! God is not cruel and he does not mock us:

• That is why although Moses is disappointed not to enter the Promised Land;

• Moses is not submerged in self-pity.

• He is not angrily shaking his fist at God and a arguing with him.

• I believe God is showing Moses that although he will not be around to see it;

• All his toils and hardships have not been in vain,

• And it is a final reminder that God always, always keeps his word!

Ill:

• When Sir Winston Churchill resigned as prime minister of Great Britain on April 5, 1955,

• Many believed it was because of his age;

• And the desire to permit Sir Anthony Eden greater opportunity in the forthcoming elections.