Lessons from Moses

Deuteronomy 34

The Death of Moses
1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. 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 western sea, [a] 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."

5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him [b] 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.

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit [c] 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 miraculous 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.

Reflection of Bee:

The story of Moses was the story that brought awe into my young life when I was attending the Sunday School then. Each Sunday I learned something new about the God of Moses. By the time the story ended, I told my Sunday School Teacher that I wanted the God of Moses to be mine too. Many years later when I watched the movie on the life of Moses, "The Prince of Egypt", awe still held my life. Yes, what a mighty God I have!

Who was this Moses that God could use so mightily and was able to talk to God face to face (v12)?

He was a man whom God raised from being a servant's son to someone of high position (as the prince of Egypt), to learn all about leadership, and then to humble him again in order to use him to lead the Israelites out of bondage. Moses made many mistakes but his heart was genuine towards God. Some of those mistakes may have consequences at the end of the day, such as Moses not being able to enter the promised land. Yet Moses was one of the great man of faith commended in Hebrews 11:23-29.

As I once again reflect on the life of Moses I could see something similar God had been doing in my life from my childhood days. He had been moulding my life, teaching me, exposing me to leadership roles and humbling me to prepare me for some special works He wants me to do in the near future. I could feel it coming but I need to obey. Like Moses, I may tend to give excuse and say like what he did in Exodus 4:10,

"O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."

Dear Lord,
Thinking about Moses brings back many memories of how I came to know You. His life is also an encouragement for me to know that all I have gone through in my life have their special purposes. You have a special calling for my life which I need to obey. Give me strength and courage to accept what You have prepared for me to do. Let me not give excuses but to fully rely on You and not on my own abilities. May Your peace reigns in my heart tonight. Speak to me during the Sunday Worship tomorrow.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

Although Moses is a great prophet and a great man, He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he has disobeyed God (Numbers 20:12). He never felt angry with God, in fact he still called Him his friend. Likewise, we too will be disciplined by God when we sometimes disobey Him. But instead of responding with resentment or embarrassment, we should turn towards Him with love, openness and the desire to do better.

Dear Father, thank You for teaching me to be responsible for my action. Thank You for teaching me not to turn away from You when I experience the sting of Your discipline, but to come to You humbly, seeking Your forgiveness and trusting You to change me and not giving up to do better next time. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

We belong to God

Job 41:1-11

10 No one is fierce enough to rouse him.
Who then is able to stand against me?

11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Reflection of Bee:

God has created the heaven and the earth, so all things under heaven belongs to Him. If so, we also belong to God and we need to submit ourselves to Him.

Dear Lord,
Since I belong to you, surely you will take care of me. Once again I want to commit my life, my future, my career ad relationship to You. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen



Reflection of Tommy:

One once said that it takes greater faith to believe all things happened by mere random chance than to believe in a creator God. That’s why it startled me whenever a person can says that they are marveled by the wonders of nature and creation yet denies the existence of God, and even ridicules Him in words. They also regard everything as irrelevant and that nothing matters, giving them excuse living recklessly and selfishly.

But as Christian, we know and acknowledge humbly that “God created every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded" (Gen. 1:21). The more we learn and realize the wonders around us, the more we recognize God’s eternal power and worship Him as Lord of creation (Rom. 1:20).

Dear Father, thank You that You have blessed us with so many great and wonderful things around us. Thank You for giving me the right perspective on who You are and the humility to acknowledge Your sovereignty over everything. Thank You also for revealing Your amazing love to me through Jesus who came to give me a new life with You. Teach me continue to submit to Your loving care and trusting You for all my needs. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Celebration Of Creation

Job 38:1-7

The LORD Speaks
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:

2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?

3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.

5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?

6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone-

7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels [a] shouted for joy?

Reflection of Bee:

I could find myself dumb founded if God were to ask me those questions above. I couldn't argue with God. I have to bow down and acknowledge His sovereignty... His foreknowledge of our hearts and minds.

Dear Lord,
I know You are sovereign and all-knowing. You know me more than I know myself... You know my thoughts and my intentions. Forgive me for all my sins before You and help me live a life that is pleasing to You that will bring glory to Your name.
As I start my work again tomorrow, grant me wisdom to know how to handle the people I work with and to resolve problems well as they come. Grant me good health and let me sleep well.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.



Reflection of Tommy:

When things get awry, we sometimes wonder where’s God and why isn’t He doing anything about our situation. Or, we get troubled or even envied when those who we think that are less ‘devoted’ to God have such an easier life than us. In the classic story of Job, we see how God revealed Job’s ignorance of His moral order through his ignorance of earth’s natural order.

Like Job, we sometimes, unknowingly put God under our law of fairness; asking Him with many ’whys’ for our circumstances, instead of acknowledging that God is higher than any standard or criterion we can think of. God himself is the standard. Our response should be to submit to His authority and rest in His loving care.

Dear Lord, thank You for showing to me the right perspective when dealing when trials in my life. Thank You that because of who You are, I have the peace, confidence and courage to humbly accept all that You allows to happen in my life. Keep me remain firmly committed to You and obey You always. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.