Faithful....No Matter What

I was reading Deuteronomy this morning, where Moses was near the end of his life and was telling this new generation of Israelites all that had transpired over the last 40 years. He told them of God's faithfulness in delivering the Israeli nation from the grip of Pharaoh and the Egyptians; he reminded them of God leading them by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. He spoke of the manna provided each day and the water that came from a rock.

He also reminded them of the disobedience and faithlessness of that first generation of Israelites. God had promised to give them the land...all they had to do was take it. But they allowed fear and uncertainty to cloud their vision; they didn't have faith in their God to do what He said He would do. He told them of his own disobedience that would prevent him from entering the Promised Land.

As I read, I realized that Moses led these disobedient wanderers for thirty-eight years after God told him he would not allowed to enter the Promised Land. He led them after God told them they would die in the desert and not be allowed to enter the land He had promised to give them...only their descendants would enter.

And I thought..."Why would Moses continue to lead a group of people that he knew were going to die in the desert? Why would he continue to lead them when he knew he himself would not be able to see the finish line?"

"Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter His rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."

Hebrews 3:16-19

I called a friend to verbalize my thoughts and told her, "To me, this is the ultimate example of faithfulness!" Perhaps even the definition of faithfulness.... to complete the task to which you were called, knowing that you will not be able to see the fulfillment of the promise. Moses knew he was going to lead this generation of Israelites into a pointless journey as they wandered in the desert for thirty-eight years. Why didn't he just throw up his hands and say, "Fine then, I'm done!"

My friend reminded me that he also was thinking of the next generation. Yes, this generation was faithless and sinful, but there was hope for the next. Joshua was being raised up to lead this next generation and Moses had thirty eight years to disciple him, train him, and teach him to listen and obey the Word of the Lord. It also showed the integrity of Moses that he would complete the task set before him.

Moses is included in the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11. He lived each day by faith, even when he knew the final outcome would not be accomplished by him. God did allow him to see the Promised Land.

Do I have that kind of faith? Do I care enough about the next generation to live each day walking and doing what God has called me to do, even if I may not see the finished product?

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Hebrews 12:1 (NKJ)

Faithfulness and Integrity...until we finish the race.

'Lena
©Be Still and Know...