New Home We are at the end of the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy… and thus at the end of our series that we have called God in the Midst. We started the series precisely a year ago, scattering these 18 messages over the past 52 Sundays.

We are in chapter 34 (that last chapter in Deuteronomy)… but the chapter is bluntly summarized in a verse right after Deuteronomy. God says it plainly in Joshua 2:1:

Moses my servant is dead.

That is where Joshua starts… and it is where Deuteronomy ends. Moses completed his work, bringing God’s people back to the Promised Land… and the People, led by Joshua, received that Land.

Here is how it is put in Deuteronomy 34:

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho.1

After leading the Song of Moses (chapter 32) and blessing the People, family by family (chapter 33)… Moses climbed a mountain. He may have been old, but certainly not decrepit, as his legs and lungs were strong enough to take him to the top of Mount Nebo. He may have been old, but his eyes were strong enough to see the vast landscape of the Promised Land.

This mountain puts me in mind of another mountain… actually it puts me in mind of four mountains. Three are more significant and even spiritual… but allow me to start with this mountain: Mount Rushmore.

1 The New International Version. (2011). (Dt 34:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

In Laurie’s childhood, she followed her ancestors, making their way to vacation among the mountains in Canada’s Banff National Park; we gladly continue in that tradition today and somehow I expect our sons to do so as well.

In my childhood, we enjoyed several vacations in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They do look more like hills than mountains in comparison to the spectacular peaks of Banff… but that is where my dad’s Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Ed lived (in downtown Deadwood) which provided a pretty great place to land for affordable vacations.

There are all sorts of attractions in the Black Hills, but none compares to Mount Rushmore. I can’t imagine being able to get a permit to blow up a mountain like that these days; I’m sure glad they did it in the late 1930s.

My point isn’t so much about the mountain… but a cultural reference. Have you ever heard the phrase “who is on your Mount Rushmore?” It is the sort of thing I hear on sports-talk radio… but I’ve heard it in several contexts.

We might ask, “Who is on the Mount Rushmore of people in the Old Testament?” Or better yet… who is on the Mount Rushmore of people in the Bible? I would argue that Moses makes both lists.

With that said… always remember that Moses is not, nor is any mere human, the star of the Bible; God is always the main character of the Bible.

So Moses climbed the mountain that the Lord prescribed…

There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” 2

In literally climbing the mountain the Lord prescribed at the end of his life, Moses commemorated the figurative mountain that the Lord had him climb. There from atop the mountain, Moses saw, with his own eyes, the proof of God’s faithfulness… the land, that God promised, was about to be possessed by His People.

The scene begs a question, doesn’t it? Is this a picture of success or failure, victory or defeat?

God said, “Here it is” a demonstration of success… but “no you don’t.” There was success in that Moses had brought the people to the edge of the Promised Land… but the Promise was to be fully experienced only by his successors.

We can read earlier that Moses was not allowed to set foot on the Land because of his presumption when dealing with the rebellion of the people. In earlier passages Moses held the people accountable, blaming their rebellion for his inability to cross over into the land… but the Lord held Moses accountable for his own presumption and disobedience when dealing with rebellion.

So… was this a moment of victorious success for Moses, or something short of that? I think it was a moment of success and humanity.

2 The New International Version. (2011). (Dt 34:1–4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

This was a demonstration of humanity; Moses was not perfect… and the people seeing Moses climb Nebo (as they had seen him climb Mount Sinai… mountain number two) was a reminder of the humanity of Moses. Moses climbed Mount Sinai to hear from God and bring His Word to His People (it was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments); now Moses climbed Mount Nebo to see the fruition of God’s Promise, and to go to God.

Sure… this was a moment that reminded us all of the humanity of Moses, but it was a moment of great victory. There is success through succession… as far as I’m concerned, the greatest success is through succession. I’m confident that as Moses surveyed the Promised Land from the view atop Nebo, he worshipped God for all that God accomplished through his service and leadership. Moses finished strong as he completed the work God gave him. God help us to finish so strong. 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. 3

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. 4

3 The New International Version. (2011). (Dt 34:5–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 4 The New International Version. (2011). (Dt 34:9–12). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

These last words of Deuteronomy make the case that Moses should be on the Mount Rushmore of the Bible. If that doesn’t do it, consider a third mountain, the Mount of Transfiguration. Here is how my favorite Deuteronomy commentator, Chris Wright states it:

as Moses’ undimmed eyes scanned the northern mountains, perhaps one may be allowed to imagine a twinkle in the eyes of the LORD God, looking forward to that day when Moses, the servant of God, would stand at last on another mountain in the land, conversing with the Son of God about the even greater “exodus” that he would accomplish in Jerusalem for Israel and for the world5

Here is how it is portrayed in The Gospel of Luke: 28 About eight days after Jesus said this [His

foretelling of His death], he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, q which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen. 6

Moses, in this way, did stand on the Promised Land… this time with the Promised One.

Which brings me to that fourth mountain… Mount Calvary. Moses climbing Mount Nebo, facing his death as he finished God’s work, foreshadows how Jesus climbed Mount Calvary, facing His death as He finished God’s work.

5 Wright, C. J. H. (2012). Deuteronomy. (W. W. Gasque, R. L. Hubbard Jr., & R. K. Johnston, Eds.) (pp. 313–314). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. 6 The New International Version. (2011). (Lk 9:28–36). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Of course the deliverance that Jesus accomplished, through His death, was not merely from a land of tyranny to a land of promise… it was deliverance from sin for all who believe. Thank God for Mount Nebo and Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration… but they do not begin to compare to Mount Calvary!

I want to conclude with a beginning. When we turn the page past Deuteronomy, we find the Book of Joshua. In chapter 3, we read precisely how the People of God entered the Promised Land.

Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits c between you and the ark; do not go near it.” 7

When Moses led, God went ahead with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Those days were over as God fulfilled His promise with their new home. Yet, the presence of God remained, symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. God’s presence would still lead the people into His Promise.

His presence went hand in hand with reverence. His presence was carried by a select few, and the others kept a distance of around 1,000 yards.

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”

6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ” 8

7 The New International Version. (2011). (Jos 3:1–4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 8 The New International Version. (2011). (Jos 3:5–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Go stand in the river… yet another demonstration of God’s faithfulness, which also demanded a measure of faith.

You may have heard me say it before, miracles are not magic for our entertainment; miracles are meant to build faith. So, yet again, God called His People to take a step of faith… this time a wet step of faith. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. 9

I wonder how long it took. The priests waded into the water. I suspect it was more than just a matter of getting their toes wet. Was it waist high? I hope it wasn’t neck deep.

Then the water piled up in a heap a great distance away… so the water didn’t just stop, like a wall of water as depicted in DeMille’s Ten-Commandments movie. It wasn’t like turning the faucet off. It had to take a while, likely a long while, as the water slowly receded. Those in the water had time to think about it… maybe even doubt their step of faith. Yet slowly and surely the water receded and the people crossed on dry ground (either a very special river bed or another miracle).

Here’s today’s challenge:

Go and stand in the river. Take a step of faith today. Perhaps a first step, or a next step, or even a re-step.

9 The New International Version. (2011). (Jos 3:15–17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Communion is a step of remembrance, and a step of obedience, and it can always be a step of faith.