How to Finish Well
October 29, 2023
How to Finish Well
By Brooke Holt
“Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And the Lord said to him, ‘This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, “I will give it to your offspring.” I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.’” Deuteronomy 34:1-4
I have competed in many races, and my favorite part of every one is crossing the finish line. Whether in a triathlon, a half-marathon, or even a 5k, I delight in turning the last corner and seeing the finish line. It amazes me how my body can find new energy and vigor to move into a sprint just to get to that line. We all want to finish well! Moses was no different.
At this point in Moses’ journey, the Lord led him up to the plains of Moab to look out over the promised land. For forty years, Moses has led the nation of Israel towards this land. During those formative years, Moses transitioned from a hesitant leader who struggled to speak before the people as well as Pharaoh into a leader who spoke with confidence and authority. This transformation occurred as Moses learned to put his trust in God instead of himself.
Moses began his ministry in the desert as God called to him out of the burning bush. He learned who God was and in learning who God was, Moses learned who he was: the one God had set apart from birth to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage in the land of Egypt to the promised land. Moses learned of God's great power and sovereignty as the Lord overpowered Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods in the ten plagues and then in the Israelites great exodus from the land.
Throughout the wilderness wanderings, the Lord continued to meet with Moses, to speak to Moses, and to equip him for the work of leading the people. Led by the Lord, Moses enjoyed an intimate relationship with him. As the Scripture for today reads, “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). What a beautiful description of the friendship between Moses and the Lord. That friendship kept Moses focused and strong for the journey.
Moses’ journey on earth was coming to an end. He faithfully loved God and the Israelite —his key to finishing well. Moses stayed close to the Lord, constantly sought his plan, and relied on his strength to lead and to love. Though he would only see the Promised land from afar, Moses knew the best lay ahead for he would see his Lord and experience an even more intimate union of being face to face.
Reflection:
Are you on track to finish well? Are you following this example of Moses? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resources:
How do you prepare your hearts for Christmas as you prepare your homes, meals, and gifts? Underneath all the busyness of Christmas lies the true purpose of the season – the celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Hope-Peace-Love-Joy is a four-week Advent Study focused on preparing your hearts for the coming king. Start your day with a short devotional reading. Each week, an engaging video teaching from our authors, Marcia and Gilda, will lead you into discussion questions included in the small group study guide. This Advent season make some time to study, reflect, and discuss the significance of Jesus coming to dwell among his people. Invite some neighbors or your best friends to join you on this faith adventure. Make time to rekindle or renew your faith this Advent season.
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