A
depiction of Moses allowed to view, yet, not set foot on the land
promised to Abraham (see image reference below)
Today,
reply is on the humanity of Moses, and his error that resulted in the
prophet not being allowed to enter the Promised Land. Moses did not
part the Red Sea; that was an act of GOD performed to make visible
divine prerogative, eternal purpose, grace, and the sovereign will of
GOD. As a prophet and spokesperson sent from GOD, Moses and the
tables of stone were to serve as divinely appointed emblems (like a
police officer’s badge),
credible witnesses to the active presence who is divinity, and
enduring tools to discern the workings of GOD’s
authority and dominion. Mankind’s
anger, bitterness, and rage against one another along with the
unwillingness to forgive or be in reconciliation are not the same as
divine wrath against sin; and it is not correct that men express the
wrath of GOD against sin during human tribunals for judgment. The
divine process of assigning value, determining continuity and
duration, and providing correction within ongoing
relationships demands attention to detail, balance, completeness,
impartiality, mercy, and righteousness. The two stone tablets
whereon the finger of GOD had recorded the covenant law for Israel
were destroyed by Moses to declare the unworthiness of Jacob and the
mixed multitude to receive divine gifts as well as to punish Israel,
yet, was no more than a another human act of temper, violence, and
self-will. It is written: Romans 10: 2-4, King James Version
(KJV): 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s
righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness,
have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one
that believeth. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers”
public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous”
(no profile information shown) posted the following:
If
Moses could part the Red Sea, why couldn't he make the stone tablets
without breaking the first set?
THE
GOLDEN ARROW: For the law was given by Moses, but grace and
truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1: 17, King James Version, KJV)
THE
DOUBLE DAGGER: The Divinity of Peter? (01/21/2019); Lost For 40
Years? (09/17/2018); Judgment Against The Canaanites (08/01/2018);
What Would Moses Say? (10/27/2017); The Generation That Wandered
(06/14/2017); Divine Law Expresses Love (05/10/2017);
The Transfiguration of Christ (11/14/2016); The Body of Moses
(05/11/2014); GOD Permits Evil? (05/12/2014)
“Anonymous”,
because GOD is an immortal, incorruptible, invisible spirit, the
Creator has used many different carnal, material and social devices
that can be recognized and understood by created beings and living
creatures to make divinity knowable, accessible, and approachable.
In addition to spirit beings and divine process (e.g., angels,
prophetic dreams, visions), GOD has used specially selected and
prepared human agents and operations. Included have been Adam, the
Patriarchs, judges, kings, priests, and prophets as well as birth,
family, government, and inheritance.
Moses
was selected to serve as a visible, human spokesperson for unseen
divinity. The personhood of Moses was not divine or perfected;
however, his character and nature were pliable and responsive to
divine fullness (the holy writings say, Moses was meek and teachable
above all the men on the earth). Moses received important benefits
and instruction that would fit him for leadership of the sons of
Jacob while growing up within the household of Pharaoh; however
there, Moses also was continually exposed to the arrogance, idolatry,
exaggerated pride, and spiritual confusion that dominated the
then-known-world through Egypt. During the time of famine, the
Egyptian people sold their livestock, their land, and even themselves
to Pharaoh. When they became the “private property” of Pharaoh,
they also lost all possibility of their own family inheritances.
The
authentic humanity of Moses is seen in his responses to the
opposition he was shown by those who left Egypt at his urging. His
authority and integrity were repeatedly challenged. Moses failed to
maintain humility and self-restraint on more than one occasion. When
Moses intervened between an Egyptian and a Hebrew in a dispute, the
outcome was after the example of Cain, who killed his brother Abel.
When commanded to call forth water from a rock, Moses lost his
temper, and expressed his anger and disgust with the people.
Although he had served GOD for 40 years living among the Hebrews as a
nomad, Moses (and more than ½ million others numbered as the army of
Israel) would be denied the privilege of setting foot within the land
of Canaan. Consider again the following that uses language from the
Bible:
1.
Numbers 12: 1-9, King James Version (KJV): 1 And Miriam and Aaron
spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had
married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said,
Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath
he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which
were upon the face of the earth.) 4 And the LORD
spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out
ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came
out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of
the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called
Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And he said, Hear now
my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD
will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak
unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is
faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth,
even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the
LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not
afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against
them; and he departed.
2.
Numbers 14: 26-31, KJV: 26 And the LORD spake
unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with
this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the
murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD,
as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: 29 Your
carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of
you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward
which have murmured against me. 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into
the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein,
save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But
your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring
in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
3.
Numbers 20: 7-12, KJV: 7 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
8
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron
thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it
shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water
out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts
drink.
9
And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the
rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you
water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with
his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly,
and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the
LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye
believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of
Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land
which I have given them.
4.
Deuteronomy 32: 48-52, KJV: 48 And the LORD
spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, 49 Get thee up into this
mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land
of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of
Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:
50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto
thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered
unto his people: 51 Because ye trespassed against me among the
children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness
of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of
Israel. 52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou
shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of
Israel.
There
is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually
apprehended. (For example, 5. James 1: 19-21, KJV: 19 Wherefore,
my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness
of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is
able to save your souls.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be
useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
Image
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THE
BLACK PHOENIX
Washington,
DC
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