Final Words - Final Acts

"FINAL WORDS, FINAL ACTS"

TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 29-34

INTRODUCTION

A. Today is our last Sunday studying from the book of Deuteronomy. It is our last Sunday to study from the books written by God’s faithful servant Moses. I have thoroughly enjoyed studying these 5 great books.

B. Next month we will be studying from the book of James. The book of James is a fantastic book. I want to encourage all of you to take part in these study. If you can’t be here on Wednesday, you can still pick up a list of study questions and do them at home.

If everyone here reads this book and takes seriously what it teaches, we will see some serious stuff start happening for the Lord. Let me challenge you know to be a part of this study, in fact I dare you, I even double dog dare you.

C. He arose early that day, before sunrise. And as he contemplated his last day on this earth, his last day with the people he loved, his mind went back and reflected on his many years.

He thought about the first time, when he was about 3 years old that his father and mother Amram and Jochebed told him about the basket, the Nile, and the hand of God.

He remember how afraid he was when he killed the Egyptian. And he will never forget the fear, the wonder and awe he felt as he stood before the burning bush and heard the voice of God CALLING HIM.

As the sun began to sneak over the distant horizon, Moses reflected on all the wonders that God had performed through him.

He still was amazed how God could use him, a mere man, to accomplish his will. "WHAT AN AWESOME AND MIGHTY GOD IS YAHWEH", HE SAID TO HIMSELF AS HE STOOD TO BEGIN HIS DAY.

Moses had many things he needed to do today, many final things to take care of before his departure. There are things that some one who knows that their time is short, must do in order to make ready for their trip, things that need to be done, so they can be sure that those who are left behind, are taking care of. There are final words that must be spoken and there are final acts that must be performed.

So there stood Moses, the morning sun shining above him. Standing tall and strong, he was 120 years old but in all those years he strength had not waned and his eyes had not grown dim. He was as strong as ever as he walked away from his tent to take care of this day’s business.

D. Today, as we survey chapters 29-34 of Deuteronomy we will study the final words and final acts of God’s faithful servant Moses. And as we hear his words and as we see his acts, we should be inspired and challenged by this great leader.

Let the final day of Moses inspire you to greater service to your God and Savior, and greater commitment to your Lord and King.

I. FINAL WORDS

Moses’ final words are important, the things he said to God’s people on that last day are very significant, and they have tremendous application for us as well.

A. MOSES GIVES THEM A REMINDER, of:

1. GOD’S POWER [29:2-4]

Moses reminds God’s people that it was with their own eyes that they saw the great wonders of God performed in Egypt. With their own eyes they saw the plagues of blood, frogs, gnats, flies, hail, boils, locust, darkness and the death of the first born of all of Egypt from the son of Pharaoh to the son of a slave girl.

With their own eyes they saw the mighty nation of Egypt, a nation that had oppressed them for nearly 400 years crumple and falls to her knees before the mighty hand of GOD, being swept away by the mighty waters of the Red Sea.

And though the people had seen this awesome display of God’s power with their own eyes, Moses said that most did not grasp the full significance of these acts and were spiritually blind.

Moses reminded the people of God’s power.

2. GOD’S PROVISION [29:5-8]

Moses here reminds God’s people of God’s provision during the 40 years of wilderness wandering. God provided them with clothing and sandals that did not wear out. God even, as Moses tells us in Deuteronomy chapter 8, kept their feet from swelling as well, during those years of desert walking.

Moses reminds them that God also provided them with food, as bread from heaven came down each day. They survived all those years in the wilderness, not by harvesting wheat and baking bread, or by harvesting grapes and making wine. They had not been sustained by their own labor or through their own efforts, but by the hand of their God.