12 December Deuteronomy 32

Walk in a manner worthy of your calling

Deuteronomy 32:52 (NIV) "Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel."

When I read this passage, one verse stood out to me: “You will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land.” How heartbreaking this is! God had called Moses to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses received the law directly from God, met with Him face to face, witnessed countless miracles, and was guided by a pillar of fire at night and a cloud during the day. Yet despite all this, Moses would only see the promised land from a distance, never setting foot in it.

This brought two critical lessons to my attention:

1. "You will see it, but not enter it"

Moses did not enter the promised land because he disobeyed God. As it says in Deuteronomy 32:51 (NIV) “This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites”.

Failing to honour God properly is a serious sin. To "sanctify" God means to respect Him as holy and powerful, fear Him above all else, love and trust Him fully, and obey His commands. By doing this, we demonstrate our belief in God's truth, goodness, and power, affirming that He alone is worthy of trust and reverence.

In the story, Moses and Aaron failed to uphold God's holiness. They publicly dishonoured Him before the Israelites, and as a result, they were only allowed to see the promised land from a distance. This serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to remain obedient to God’s word. A single act of disobedience can lead us to miss God’s greater plan for our lives.

Deuteronomy 32:51 carries a powerful message for us today. It underscores the importance of obeying God, treating Him as holy, and showing Him the respect He deserves. It warns of the consequences of disobedience and challenges us to examine our faithfulness and commitment to God. Above all, it emphasises God's holiness and the need to honour Him in all we do.

*2. Moses remained faithful despite knowing he would not enter the promised land*

Even after learning that he would not enter the promised land, Moses remained fully committed to fulfilling God's call. He continued leading the Israelites with dedication and excellence, never wavering in obedience or questioning his calling. This speaks volumes about Moses' faith, love for God, and a deep sense of purpose. Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV) urges us to: "Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.

Moses lived out this truth, demonstrating that true faithfulness means persevering in our calling, even when the outcome is not what we hoped for. Similarly, 1 Corinthians 7:17 (ESV) reminds us: "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him”.

The story of Moses teaches us two important lessons: the seriousness of obeying and honouring God and the value of remaining faithful to our calling no matter the circumstances. Like Moses, we are called to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, trusting in God’s greater plan. Let us remain steadfast in obedience, honour God in all we do, and serve Him with the same unwavering commitment that Moses showed. By doing so, we bring glory to His name and fulfil the purpose He has set before us.