Our Part

April 19

Deuteronomy 33-34

Psalm 48:8-14

Proverbs 11:19-21

Luke 12:35-59

Our Part

“Now Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated.  So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days.  Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.  Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as Yahweh had commanded Moses.”  Deuteronomy 34:7-9  LSB 

Verses 10-12 go on to explain that there was “never a prophet in Israel like Moses, that Yahweh knew face-to-face.”  God used Moses mightily.  Moses had a special relationship with God that has not been replicated throughout the ages.  But it is important to recognize that Moses was just a man.  He was not perfect.  He sinned, and as a result, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. God took him up on a mountain and let him see the land that had been promised to the children of Israel, but he did not enter the land.  We could argue that God was harsh in His punishment of Moses.  After all, Moses was the one who lead them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the wilderness.  Didn’t he deserve to get to enjoy the Promised Land, too?  Somehow I don’t think Moses complained when God closed his eyes on that mountain and opened them in heaven.  He had completed his mission.  He had played his role in God’s master plan.  Now it was Joshua’s turn to lead the people into the Promised Land.  God had designed each of them for a specific function.  Moses had done his job and it was time to pass the baton.  He was the best person to lead them through the desert, but he was not the best one to lead them in the next phase. 

            Just as this was true for Moses and Joshua, this principle is just as true today.  We each have a role to play in God’s master plan.  He has a plan for each of us.  For some, He intends for them to be preachers and teachers who will lead His people during a period in history.  For others, God has designed them to be in the background serving and encouraging others.  God has created each of us with skills, personality traits, gifts and abilities that we need to carry out the function He has planned for us.  It is important to remember that no one is indispensable.  Our role is temporary.  Even Moses was there for a short time and then it was time for someone else to take over and carry on.  This reality is both heavy and freeing.  We each have a heavy responsibility to do our part.  God expects us to complete the task He has assigned to us.  But it also provides us with a sense of relief because we understand that we cannot do it all.  God does not expect us to bear the weight of doing everything.  We have a role.  Our job is to do our job.  He is the designer, architect, and overseer.  He is going to make sure that His plan is accomplished.  When my job is done, there will be someone else to carry on the mission.  Am I doing my part?