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