Tribal Blessings

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 33:3-16     4/4/2018

Moses blessed each of the tribes.

Tribal Blessings

Although Moses’ blessing of the tribes is reminiscent of Jacob’s blessings at the end of Genesis, the order and emphasis is decidedly different.

Moses’ blessing emphasized the role and leadership of the tribes of Joseph and Levi and simultaneously de-emphasized the role of the tribe of Judah. This was different than Jacob’s blessings which anticipated that the mantle of leadership would come from Judah.

Throughout the exodus, the people had been carrying the mummified remains of Joseph. He was a great patriarch and leader over the tribes, who had also forced his sons to swear an oath to take his body back to the land of his fathers. Similarly, Moses and Aaron were from Levi, so no surprise the Levites and priests were the focus of a richer blessing. The emphasis on the tribes of Levi and Joseph were natural, but de-emphasizing the tribe of Judah is less intuitive.

Judah and Joseph

As men, Judah and Joseph struggled most of their lives over the right to lead. In the end, both formed an historic legacy for leadership. As a result, the tension between these two passed down through generations. The underlying stress made a cameo appearance in Moses’ blessing, but we make no mistake, this is a crack in the foundation of God’s great experiment.

The pressure on the community to split will only increase with time, growth, affluence and leisure.

Power for its own sake is a false self. It is less than the possibility of my life. No amount of control over the external things of this world compares to the freedom to respond to God wholly – without reserve.

“whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all”.  Mark 10:44

Facing Death

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 32:43-33:2     4/3/2018

God’s Song – Moses recorded the end of God’s song. It proclaimed, “exult” with the Lord as all divine beings do. And with that the song was complete.

In his final comments, Moses told the people: these words I have given you are your very life – teach them to your children.

Finally, God ordered Moses to ascend Mount Nebo in order to die, just as his brother Aaron had ascended Mount Hor years before.

Facing Death

Death is the ultimate affront to life. Without context, it mocks and undermines everything that life is.

It would be enough if death came quickly and without warning – not too young but not too old – and it would be nice if it was painless. But things sometimes don’t work out that way. Some have to face death. Some have to knowingly walk into it. Even painful death.

Moses did not plead or beg. He didn’t run or hide. He faced his own death while continuing to encourage the people in the way of righteousness until the very end.

Not My Will But Thine Be Done

It’s available to us all – this way of living and dying. It’s within my power to defer my own expectations, my own hopes, my own dreams in favor of the will of God. But it’s not usually the result of some extraordinary grace that comes at the end of a life selfishly lived. Instead, it comes out of the habit of 10,000 decisions to put God’s will before my own – to trust God even unto death. To trust God even unto the undeserved forgiveness of a tormenting sibling; to trust God even unto the sharing of the last bit of food; to trust God even unto accepting humiliation and ridicule for believing in Him.

Indeed, it’s available to all.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” Luke 22:42

Jesus and Peter

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 32:28-42   4/2/2018

Moses continued recording the words of God’s song in the book of the law. With God on the Israelites’ side, a small force will overwhelm a large enemy. This is so because the gods of enemies aren’t really gods. God is the “Rock” of Israel.

In the song that Moses recorded, other nations are described as not having a “rock” like God. The song describes the spiritual ancestry of the other nations as the “vine of Sodom and Gomorrah”.

All of this to show that there is only one, true God.

Jesus and Peter

Jesus renamed Simon. He called him “Peter” – the Rock. He said to Peter, “And so I say to you, you are Peter [Rock], and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it”. Matt 16:18

So God the Father declares himself to be “The Rock” of Israel. But Jesus, the son of God, declares Simon to be “The Rock”.

How does that work?

Peter and the Church

Jesus didn’t refer to Peter “the Rock” in those terms without realizing what he was saying. Just as He described Himself as “I Am”, this claim was specific and challenging.

The temple system instituted by Moses had failed – and would fail again. But the church built on Peter – the Rock – would never fail. The church – bearer of the Authentic Community on earth. Faith manifest in the Authentic Community. It will prevail. Gates of hell do what they will, it will not overcome the church of the Rock.

That’s a promise.

 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matt 16:19 

People Who Are No-People

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 32:14-27     4/1/2018

Moses prophesied through his song that the people would gorge themselves on the goods of the land and then forget about the God who saved them. God will respond to the people’s faithlessness “in-kind”, as the people have turned to a god that is really a “no-god”, the most High will turn to a people that is “no-people” and bless them.

People Who Are “No-People“

Wealth creates leisure. Leisure creates the possibility of culture. It takes leisure time in order to be able to create cultural achievements. The “land flowing with milk and honey” was supposed to be a place where extraordinary cultural achievements occurred – in the light of the God of creation.

But the danger in leisure is that the people will forget God. Humans instinctively turn to God in times of distress, but when things are going well, one common delusion is to think that we created the possibility of leisure without the help of God.

That’s what “people who are no people” do. They fail to recognize God. They fail to recognize the common human heritage in God.  And so, they achieve for a while and then they are gone. This is the history of human civilizations from time immemorial.

That is, this is the course of human history with basically one exception – the Jewish people.

Paul Sees the Fulfillment

So who are the “people who are no people”? Paul says it is the elect – you and me. We are the people who are no people.

And so we bear this responsibility. “The stone the builders rejected, that has become the cornerstone.” And those who fall upon this stone become the church. And the church will lead all back to all.

Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall? Of course not! But through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous. Rom 11:11

God’s Portion

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 31:29-32:13     3/31/2018

Moses entreated the Israelites to allow his teaching to infuse their thinking and culture. He celebrated God’s goodness and faithfulness. He also observed that a necessary implication of God’s commitment to Israel as a chosen people is that the children of Israel are God’s portion. Finally, he reiterated the promise that God will always provide for them.

God’s Portion

The children of Israel are God’s portion. Of all the people in the world, God has this special relationship with the Israelites. It has nothing to do with their righteousness. It has nothing to do with their virtues or lack of virtues. It’s simply that He associates Himself with this people. They are, he says, His just share of the earth.

Other people are associated with other gods – which really aren’t gods at all. But for non-Israelite peoples, the association is to something other than the God of all creation. God, makes no special claim on them. If any of the nations were to come to God, they would have to do so through union with His chosen people.

Jesus’ Portion

Jesus is careful to point out that He was not sent to all the people of the world.  For example, He said, “…this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day.” He also said, “I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” Luke 5:32 And, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs” Matt 15:26  

That’s not to say that anyone is excluded – just that if people come to God, they will come to God through Jesus. This is Jesus’ portion.

We are Jesus’ portion.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:29

God Song

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 31:19-28     3/29/2018

From the cloud of fire located at the Tent of Meeting, God instructed the Mosesto write down a song. The song was a memorial to remind the Israelites of their right relationship to God. Moses wrote down the words.

He then commissioned Joshua before the priests and Levites and called for a larger assembly of leaders.

God Song

God gave Moses a song to teach the Israelites. It was a song to remind them in the midst of distress about their right relationship with God.

Song has this power to remain. It’s conserved and is carried in the heart of the community. Our minds are attuned to this. Even in the midst of stress, or perhaps especially in the midst of distress, a song remains accessible and available. It persists in its power to bind.

God’s song was meant to remind and restore what matters. It was a conduit back to God.

Jesus Sang

At the completion of the last supper, before he and his followers went to Gethsemane, they sang a hymn.

It is an odd coincidence that, at this writing, it is Holy Thursday. The eve of overwhelming darkness. We live in a world that sometimes seems overwhelming in its personal and global challenges. We, each of us, know occasional confusion and distress.

The song has not changed. Sing.

Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matt 26:30

Hard Words of Christ

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 31:11-18     3/29/2018

Moses concluded his instructions to the people. He entrusted the law to the Levitical priests to conduct annual readings at the Feast of Booths. He then presented himself at the Tent of Meeting with Joshua.

God met him there in the cloud. He prophesized about how the people would fail after Moses was gone.

Summon Joshua

Once again a few words on a page – but this is a radically intense moment. Imagine yourself there: The cloud of God speaks. Moses is reminded that he is about to die. Joshua is commissioned with power to lead the people. But he is immediately told by God that the people will rebel and break the covenant.

Perhaps none of this is a surprise to either man, but still the God of all creation is saying some hard things to hear. “Moses – it’s time for you to die.” “Joshua – the people will rebel against you.” God’s voice. What would that be like?

Hard Words of Christ

Jesus once told Peter, “Get thee behind Me Satan.” (Luke 16:18) On another occasion he said, ““Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat”. (Luke 22:31) And to the church of  Ephesus; he said, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Rev 2:4) And to Laodicia, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Rev 3:19

The hard words; the moments of realization of moral failure; the challenge of knowing that maybe life won’t turn out the way I imagined; they have a purpose. I won’t get better until I confront the reality that I am sick. I won’t play to win unless I believe that I can lose.

Trustworthy are the blows of a friend, dangerous, the kisses of an enemy Prov 27:5 

Followership

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 31:1-10      3/28/2018

Moses was 110 years old as he neared the end of his ministry and his life. He recalled to the people that he would not be entering the land with them. He then encouraged the  Israelites by reminding them that God would go before them, to fight on their behalf. God would deliver the Promised Land to the them – all they had to do was follow.

Finally, Moses gave the law to the Levitcal priests. He commanded them to read it aloud to the people each year at the Feast of Booths.

Followership

The key for the Israelites was to develop the ability to follow. Every good thing – every promise that God offered to them – would come if they learned to follow God.

The Modern Leader

Contrast the idea of followership against the modern idea of leadership. The whole world wants to lead – autonomously. Search for a title on leadership – the only challenge is to narrow it down to the top 100 or so books.

But think of anyone who has a reputation for following God; were they not also remarkable leaders? Were they not also great influencers?

You want to lead. Great. Don’t do it by hoisting some impossible burden on your back. Don’t do it by accepting an assumed responsibility for the lives of a few (or many) followers. Not many people can carry this. It’s not part of your design.

Besides, no truly successful person leads for leadership’s sake. Instead, the extraordinary leader is following some extraordinary idea – endeavoring to follow some controlling vision.

The power of the saints is here; in following Christ. None of us has to strive to be a leader. We simply have to follow the one true God. Everything else will fall into place.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. Matt 6:29

Choose Life

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 30:10-20     3/27/2018

Moses anticipated a restoration of the Israelites. Although he prophesied the destruction of the nation and of the diaspora of the people, he also anticipated their repentance and restoration.

Moses assured the people the law was not too high for them – that it could be understood and lived. Their success was dependent on their willingness to obey God.

Choose Life

Moses “set before” the people the choice between life and death, good and evil. It was very clear. Follow the ways of the Lord, no matter what has happened in the past, and succeed. To not follow will inevitably lead to death.

It’s a stark but clear choice. A choice demands an answer. No one has the option of deferring. Everyone must choose. It’s an individual choice, and it’s a collective choice.

Love God or Don’t

Many of don’t want to make the choice. We don’t want it this stark – this cut and dried. It’s overwhelming.

The natural thing to do is to keep all options on the table for as long as possible. What I really want is to do whatever I want to do and yet keep open the possibility of relationship with God – to not let that possibility leave the table. It damns me, to think this way. I remain uncommitted.

So Moses did everyone a favor by pointing out there is really only one choice – and you have to make it now. Love God or don’t.

“I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot.”  Rev 3:16

The Hidden and the Revealed

Synopsis     Deuteronomy 29:28-30:9     3/26/2018

After the harsh prophecy against Israel’s future generations, Moses encouraged the people with a prophetic anticipation of God’s ultimate mercy and regathering. The people would be brought back to the land once they repented from their inequity.

The Hidden and the Revealed

“The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things are for us and for our children forever…” There is a certain privilege in receiving a secret revealed. Like a friend sharing their deepest heart, it is the vulnerability of the one revealing something specifically important. It takes a certain faith.

And the reverence with which a true friend responds makes the disclosure – the step of faith – either worthy or foolhardy.

Jesus Hidden and Revealed

Jesus did not often reveal Himself to others. When demonics recognized Him, He commanded silence.

Only with the most faithful did he cautiously reveal Himself. He asked his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” And immediately He warned them not to tell anyone about him. Matt 8:29

And this same Word has been given to us.

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” Matt 11:25