MOSES’ FINAL TASK

If you read the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy in a ‘user-friendly’ version such as The Message Bible, you will see that we’re essentially reading from Moses’ journal!

To follow my thinking here, you may need a refresher:

·        Moses and the children of Israel [Jacob] travel across the wilderness and arrive at the outskirts of Canaan – on the eastern shore of the Jordan River.

·        At the people’s suggestion, Moses sends twelve spies into Canaan to bring back a report.

·        Upon their return, ten spies indicate that it will be impossible for them to conquer this land and people!

·        Two spies – Joshua and Caleb – simply make a faith statement: God will give it to us, just don’t rebel against God! And don’t be afraid of those people. Why, we’ll have them for lunch! They have no protection and GOD is on our side. [Numbers 14:8-9 – All quotes from The Message unless otherwise noted]

·        The people immediately begin to complain and ask why Moses brought them to this place to be destroyed.

·        God’s anger broke out and sentenced the entire generation to die in the wilderness without entering the Promised Land!

·        The people repent and try to go to war against Canaan on their own strength. They are easily defeated.

·        Moses leads them back into the wilderness to wander for nearly forty years until that entire generation [under the age of 20] dies out! Only Joshua and Caleb will ever see the Promised Land.

Okay, if you’re still with me, then you realize that Moses has a final task of teaching a whole new generation of Israelites the history of:

Ø their deliverance from Egypt

Ø God’s faithfulness in providing for their needs

Ø God’s protection against foreign enemies

Ø God’s Word delivered from Mt. Sinai

Ø The repeated grumbling and complaining of their parents” generation

It was an in surmountable task! So much to cover! Moses had to be convincing since this younger generation had no [or very little] memory of actually experiencing God’s power and manifestations!

If you read these early chapters, you will see Moses’ determination to bring a whole new generation up-to-speed regarding their history and DESTINY!

Their parents had been unfaithful and unbelieving! Their parents did NOT leave them a legacy of faith! This new generation had to face the future with a major deficit of faith and trust in God!  Moses stood in the gap and made a valiant effort to infuse them with faith by telling them the history of God’s faithfulness!

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We are living in a day that reflects strongly the same dilemma. Since the 1960’s, the Church has been undermined by a radically changing culture!

I’m old enough to remember a time when the local ministerial group had major influence. In my hometown – New Brighton, PA – if the clergy spoke out about an issue, it carried a GREAT DEAL OF WEIGHT!

During the 1960's some teachers either allowed us to observe a "moment of silence" or read a verse of scripture. We began every day by standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States!

This was a period when the Church owned Sundays and Wednesday evenings! Schools and sporting groups didn’t DARE to infringe on those two time-frames! Gradually, however, they whittled away at Wednesdays by scheduling occasional games. Then, of course, they became regular! And guess what? The parents didn’t squawk! They – perhaps reluctantly – conceded! And Wednesday nights were lost as a stronghold of Christian education!

Then the teams and organizations set their sights on Sundays!  Games and practices were scheduled that competed with Sunday School and Morning Worship! And guess what? Parents didn’t draw a line by saying: “My kids will NOT be there on Sunday mornings!” So – Sundays were lost to the power of a godless culture!

Is it any wonder that churches have lost their influence?

Is it any wonder that the Church – in America – is in SERIOUS DECLINE?

Is it any wonder that sexual confusion gains favor in our culture?

Is it any wonder that violence is beyond belief?

Is it any wonder that schools are no longer safe-havens?

Although prayer in schools was banned in 1962, someone has smilingly stated that as long as they give tests in school – there’ll be prayer in school!  😄

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More than at any time in our American history, the responsibility for extending the Christian faith into the future is on parents!

It has ALWAYS been our responsibility! Remember Deuteronomy 6:5-9,

 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!

 

Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

The pathway to rectifying the diminishing of our faith in America is actually quite simple. We – as parents – must speak to our children about our faith! We must – like Moses – try our best to make it real to them! We must encourage them to develop a strong faith and trust in God! Regardless of their age!

If you dropped the ball in earlier years or were distracted by work, goals and other diversions – MAKE UP FOR IT NOW! If you have a legacy of faith – PASS IT ON!

I am the self-appointed ‘story-teller’ in the Haire family! I take every advantage of telling stories to my kids and grandkids! I want them to know that they have a history of faith! In the case of our children, both the Whippos and the Haires raised their families in the faith! What a blessing for our kids! The same is true of our grandchildren. Both the Kerstetters and the Haires raised their families in the faith!

This is an established legacy! We must make every effort to see that it continues strong and committed into the future! 

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FOREVER FORGIVING GOD: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

 Those of us who were raised in-the-faith are grateful!

We thank You for being the Lord of our homes and our lives!

 

Thank You for faithful parents who raised us to love and honor You!

Thank You for the churches that joined them in teaching and maturing us in our faith!

Thank You for role models that cared about us and encouraged us!

Thank You for spiritual mentors who guided, corrected and encouraged us!

 

Give us courage to speak openly about our faith in any setting!

Give us a renewed determination to challenge our own children – regardless of their age – to stand strong in the faith and preserve this legacy of faithfulness to You and Your Word!

 

Help us to be a force that counters a misguided culture!

Help us to be an anchor that refuses to yield to the migrating of faith that is common today!

Help us to maintain a daily walk with You that transforms us and keeps us heading toward Heaven and its eternal joys!

 

AMEN!

WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP THIS, GOD?

Like many this morning, I'm in utter shock at the assassination of Charlie Kirk yesterday. Such a brilliant mind, capable leader, confident Christian and competent apologist!  Clearly he was already a major influencer through his Turning Point USA organization! This husband and father of two's voice was going to be heard and his impact was sure to make a difference - until yesterday afternoon.

Interestingly, yesterday I wrote a Facebook post titled: "Can Good Come Out of Bad?" And yet this morning I find myself asking God: "Why didn't You stop this?" 

I doubt that I'm alone in the query.

As a pastor, I've spent an adult lifetime answering questions about God and His action or inaction.  I've studied the Bible for answers and been trained by my counseling degree how to guide people in the throes of pain and loss. But this morning, I feel the pain of the loss of a good, good man in the prime of his life who was clearly destined for a great role in our country. His senseless death leaves me sad, angry, and feeling hopeless. The condition of our country feels irreparable!

Over the years, I have prayed regularly that the Lord would help me to never be responsible for taking the life of another person. I have also prayed this prayer over my wife and children!  

Obviously, I've known people who have faced this peril. I've prayed with them and ministered to them. Some were veterans who carried horrible burdens in their memory-banks. Early in my  ministry I made a friend of a younger man who had an accident with a friend in his car who was killed on impact. This young man's life was indelibly affected! I'm thankful that there is grace for situations like this, and I have always been comforted to be able to extend that grace on God's behalf!

However, we now have people filled with anger and mental instability who are eager to act out their violence by taking the life of another because of disagreements or differing opinions! How did our world become so evil and hateful? It certainly didn't happen overnight!

I feel paralyzed by Charlie's death! I can't get motivated to move on with my day. Discouragement and disillusionment hover over me! I need to think. I need to pray. I need God's gracious restoration. I desire to hope again.

American culture is disintegrating. Riding metros and light rails is no longer a safe activity. Remarkably, cities resist the help of the federal government's resources to restore peace in their streets - all because of political alliances. The recent murder of a young woman on a light rail was witnessed by many others who failed to assist her against her attacker and then walked around her lifeless body to exit the train!  

And in the midst of these horrific reports the church continues to divide itself and shrink its influence on our culture. The population has lost confidence in the church as an arbitrator for justice and equity!  Although vibrant and effective churches remain, the church is shrinking in size as well as influence! The denomination I've served in my entire life has shrunk by 34% over the last twenty years!

The facts are real and we all know them! But what about the question raised above: "Why didn't God stop this senseless death?

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There are just a few things that I'm certain of.

ONE is that God is also mourning with us today!

I refuse to believe that Charlie's death was God's plan or desire! God gives life! Life is sacred to God! 

SECOND is the assurance we can have that God will - in some way - bring good out of this horrible act of violence! It may take time for us to see it. Now is a time for shock, grieving and sorrow; but in time, we may be able to see evidence of God using it for good!

THIRD is the reminder that this world is just the warm-up or testing ground for an ultimate world where justice, peace, and a common love for God and one another will reign for all eternity - unhindered by violence or fear!

[I have a strong expectation that Charlie Kirk is there.]

FOURTH, God's interventions in this world are rare and beyond our understanding. We pray regularly for Him to intervene. When He does, we express our gratitude with thanksgiving. However, His sovereignty is beyond our scope of understanding and His purposes beyond our knowledge or expectations. Our walk is a walk of trust in Him!

IT'S HARD TO READ THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS

 For instance, I'm currently reading in Isaiah and Hosea.  They both lived and worked for God in the eighth century B.C.  This was  not a good time in Israel's history!  Her kingdom has already been divided into the northern and southern kingdoms: Samaria (north) and Judah [or Ephraim] (south).  Each has their own king and the kings of Samaria have even created their own worship centers to prevent their people from going to Jerusalem to worship!  

The people of both countries have wandered away from God.  They worship idols and sacrifice to non-gods.  Their immoral conduct is beyond description. They have forgotten the commandments of God and are living for self-pleasure.  Their kings are caught between two dominant and competitive forces:  Egypt, which has been stable for centuries, and Assyria, which is rising in power!  A long line of northern and southern kings seek treaties with one or the other of theses countries in an attempt to gain favor and protect their people.  They do this, of course, instead of turning to God for guidance and protection!  

God - through His prophets - sends many messengers to try to get the attention of His people, but they continue to rebel and ignore Him.  

By 722 B.C., God's patience has expired and he brings Assyria - as His instrument of punishment - to destroy Samaria and carry her inhabitants away to foreign lands!  Then, in 587 B.C., Jerusalem was destroyed and its people were carried away to Babylon!  And the foretold seventy years of exile began!  

During this time, the land of Israel lay dormant with a very small number of people left to care for the land!  Not until the Persians defeated Babylon would the new King Cyrus make a decree that the Jews could return to Israel and begin to rebuild the city and the temple [this occurred around 539 B.C.].  

Although the people were restored to their homeland, she would never attain to her former glory!

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I'm no prophet and I am not a scholar, but it is hard not to make inferences to our current situation in America.

Our country was founded on Christian principles by godly men and women who sought to establish a place for freedom of religion.  There is little doubt that these efforts flourished and a new country was born of revolution for independence!  Thirteen fledgling colonies gradually grew [by 1959] to fifty states [by the admission of Hawaii].  

This new land prospered in almost every way as westward expansion progressed from sea-to-sea!  The industrial revolution fueled enormous financial growth!  The central part of the new country became the breadbasket of the world!  The core values of Christianity adorned almost all government buildings via statues or engravings.  Churches became the glue that held communities together.  This establishment of peace and prosperity survived through the 1950's.  

Although I'm no historian, it is clear that the underpinnings came under attack during the turbulent 1960's.  We've catalogued a continual decline in the impact of Christianity since that time!  The drop-off of morality has progressively had an impact on the foundation of the American family!  Our educational system has fallen into the hands of seemingly 'progressive' thinkers who had alternative plans to subvert our youth and sow seeds of dissension.  We're seeing the results of this undermining nightly on our news channels.  

Families fracture, marriage is muddled, education is extirpated, unity is gutted, and hope is diminished. Sexual confusion is rampant among our children who are no longer led or protected by reasonable or Christian perspectives.  And all the while, a massive number of frustrated Americans remain silent - even though they may actually represent a majority!  

A cursory view of our world notices that two massive and major countries who have been traditionally considered a threat to the United States have now allied and pose a very real threat to our existence.  For at least a year, we've heard reporters and government leaders indicate that we are on the edge of nuclear war!  

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And yet, life goes on.  Many are unaware or unconcerned about these grave dilemmas.  Day-to-day life is all that matters.  Some have begun to pack away resources in case of an economic collapse.  The extreme wealthy have prepared underground bunkers capable of sustaining life for several years, if necessary.  Others rest in the misguided assumption that our woke military will ALWAYS be capable of defending us against our united enemies.  

But, different from the Old Testament days, we hear no prophets calling us back to the principles of our faith!  Christians are largely indistinguishable from all other citizens.  Complacency reigns - even in the church - which is clearly in serious decline!  

Thanks to the current administration, we're already being invaded by hoards of immigrants who do not share our values, know our history, or speak our language.  This damage has been done and cannot be reversed.  Those who have the desire and potential to propagate destructive acts and unleash unspeakable violence are already within our borders!  

For those who pay attention to these things, it at least raises the fear that we may be on the verge of being displaced, deported or destroyed.  

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For those who follow Christ firmly and place their trust in Him, we rest in the knowledge that He has assured us that He is always with us!  He sees it all!  He loves His own.  

But the fear is real!  Christians in the Roman Empire were compelled to pledge allegiance to Caesar or die!  Many chose death over denying their Lord!  Will it come to that for American Christians?  Is our faith in an eternal reward strong enough to carry us through this kind of deep persecution?  

The people of Jerusalem were marched out of the city naked as they looked over their shoulders at the smoldering fires of destruction.  Even the prophet Jeremiah was in this group!  But the same God who brought about their destruction, put it on Cyrus' heart to release them and fund the rebuilding of their society!  WE MUST TRUST GOD AND GOD ALONE!