famous last words || Moses

famous last words || Moses

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If you hear that phrase today, it might be under someone's breath as a friend gets ready to attempt something beyond their reach. I heard it this past Monday at 6AM in my crossfit box. I was the newbie, but already someone that I had just met was talking smack about what they were getting ready to attempt--a muscle up. Another guy, someone I had also just met, leaned over and said the words--"famous last words."

First words are important, but last words stick.

On Sunday, July 21st I had my last words with a crew that I have served for the past four years. Rather than coming up with my own last words, I thought it would serve them well to echo some other famous last words. Over the next few days, I'm going to post those famous last words. I pray it continues to serve them. I pray, too, that it serves you. Reviewing them has stirred me.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS || Moses to Joshua

It's the end for Moses. For forty years, he's had a daily reminder of a people's distrust in God. He has watched an entire generation fall dead as they wander in the wilderness. Yes, over the years He has seen the provision of God, power of God, and protection of God through the exodus and the wilderness wanderings, but He won't be crossing the Jordan with this new generation and Joshua and Caleb.

What does he say?

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Obeying God's word comes through a heart that is motivated by loving the Lord, walking according to His ways. I emphasized that the heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.

Deuteronomy 31:6-8

7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.

We'll look more at this with Joshua.

Deuteronomy 32:46-47

he said to them, “Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. 47 For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

The Word of God is our life. After the victory of the exodus and the heartache of the wilderness wanderings, Moses left the people with the statement that the word of God is no empty or vain thing, but it is in fact their very life. So, theGATHERING community and those that may stumble upon this blog, the word of God is life. In the written word of God we're able to discover the Word of God that became flesh--Jesus. Every page, every story, every instance and situation is all about Jesus.

Famous Last Words || Moses to Joshua: the word of God is your very life. The Word of God is your life.

A great resource to help you discover the setting and context of Moses' last words for yourself is the New Inductive Study Series book Teach Me Your Ways

 

famous last words || Joshua

famous last words || Joshua

Look Not to Your Hope, but the Source of Hope

Look Not to Your Hope, but the Source of Hope