Dec 25, 2018
Unlike Phinehas, Moses is a household name. And this Old Testament character, who wrote the book of Numbers under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is someone with whom virtually everyone is familiar. His exploits in Egypt on behalf of the people of Israel are well-known. His four decades of leadership of the people of Israel are well-documented in the Word of God. But one of the less familiar and least understood aspects of his life’s story is his barring from entrance into the promised land by God. In Numbers 27-28, we are given a glimpse into this part of Moses’ storied life. And what we get to see is a man who was a consummate shepherd – all the way to the end – and in spite of the incredibly disappointing news that he would never step foot into the land he longed to see. This is a difficult story to understand. But the one thing that stands out is the shepherd’s heart of Moses. He never let his disappointment keep him from completing his divine assignment. He led well – all the way to the end.