living long and strong

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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living long and strong

Deuteronomy 34:5-7 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of Yahveh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahveh’s word.
Deuteronomy 34:6 He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows where his grave is.
Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not run away from him.

living long and strong

A few months ago, my wife’s mother died, a wonderful strong woman who had outlasted several husbands raised six children. I think about her today as I read these words about Moses. He died at a very old age, but the biblical author explains that his death was “according to Yahveh’s word” — not due to weakness or loss of vitality.

We should all seek to take care of ourselves, taking every measure we can to see that our lives are not cut short due to carelessness. Our sky Father wants us to live long and fruitful lives — lives that reflect his power.

Lord, may we live to reflect your power, and die according to your word.

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preview at Pisgah

Posted on July 8, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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preview at Pisgah

Deuteronomy 34:1-4 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 34:1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho, and Yahveh showed him all the land: Gilead as far as Dan,
Deuteronomy 34:2 all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea,
Deuteronomy 34:3 the Negev, and the plain in the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.
Deuteronomy 34:4 Yahveh then spoke to him, and this is what he said: “This is the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.”

preview at Pisgah

Moses spent the last third of his life aiming for the promised land, and he reached its border. He was able to see it from atop Pisgah, but he was not able to enter it. Was his life a failure? Certainly not. In many ways, our lives mirror Moses. The best we can hope for is getting closer to God during this life. We never reach our ultimate destination. Like the sacred ones mentioned by the author of Hebrews, we die in faith “without receiving the things promised” (Hebrews 11:13).

Many believe that they will reach the promised land at death, but the Bible teaches that we will all reach it together when our Lord comes back to earth. Like Moses, we can reach the border just before we die, but that only means we can have the blessing of seeing our permanent destiny, but until Christ returns, none of us will enter it. God’s plan is that we will all be “made perfect together” (Hebrews 11:40).

Lord, give us the faith to reach our Pisgah in this life, and to trust you for the resurrection to follow.

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everywhere, but not everything

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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everywhere, but not everything

Deuteronomy 33:26-29 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:26 There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the sky as your partner, the clouds in his majesty.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The God of old is your dwelling place, and underneath are the permanent arms. He drives out the enemy before you and commands, “Exterminate!”
Deuteronomy 33:28 So Israel dwells securely; Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine; even his skies drip with dew.
Deuteronomy 33:29 How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yahveh? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.

everywhere, but not everything

Moses taught that God is everywhere, but he is not everything. He rides the sky above and brings security in the land below. He’s the house you dwell in and the arms and shield and sword that protect you from harm. But God does not have this relationship universally. Israel has enemies, and God will drive out those enemies. Those enemies will fear the Israelites, and serve them, because of God’s particular relationship with Israel, through the covenant.

It is comforting as a Christian to know that God is everywhere I go. But is also comforting to know that I have a relationship with him through Christ that is unique. No other gods can give me that.

Thank you God, that you are everywhere, but not everything.

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oil foot bath

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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oil foot bath

Deuteronomy 33:22-25 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:22 He said about Dan: Dan is a young lion, leaping out of Bashan.
Deuteronomy 33:23 He said about Naphtali: Naphtali, enjoying approval, full of Yahveh’s empowerment, take possession of it west and the south.
Deuteronomy 33:24 He said about Asher: May Asher be the most empowered of the sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in olive oil.
Deuteronomy 33:25 May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and your strength last as long as you live.

oil foot bath

Oil was used as a means of cleansing and protecting the head and feet. But it was used sparingly. If anyone had enough oil that they dared to dip their feet into it, it would have been considered either a huge waste, or a sign of extreme wealth. Moses’ prediction that Asher would dip his foot in olive oil suggested a future of untold wealth.

God wants to bless those who are in covenant with him, and his resources are unlimited. But not everyone that he blesses will end up with an oil foot bath. His grace is sufficient.

Lord, we trust you and thank you for the blessing you have appointed for us.

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treasure in the sand

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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treasure in the sand

Deuteronomy 33:18-21 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:18 He said about Zebulun: Enjoy, Zebulun, your journeys, and Issachar, your tents.
Deuteronomy 33:19 They summon the peoples to a mountain; there they offer acceptable sacrifices, because they draw from the wealth of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.
Deuteronomy 33:20 He said about Gad: The one who enlarges Gad’s territory will be empowered. He lies down like a lion and tears off an arm or even a head.
Deuteronomy 33:21 He chose the first for himself, because a ruler’s portion was assigned there for him. He came with the leaders of the people; he carried out Yahveh’s justice and his rules for Israel.

treasure in the sand

Zebulun and Issachar were apportioned an area that overlays the land that in New Testament times was called Galilee, which would suggest that one of the hidden treasures of which Moses spoke would be Christ himself. He was the acceptable sacrifice, or sacrifice of righteousness. For centuries, many had little respect for this remote land. But God had hidden a surprise for us all there.

Lord, thank you for the Treasure you hid for us in the remote land of Galilee.

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two legacies

Posted on July 4, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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two legacies

Deuteronomy 33:12-17 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:12 He said about Benjamin: Yahveh’s cared about one rests securely on him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on his shoulders.
Deuteronomy 33:13 He said about Joseph: May his land be empowered by Yahveh with the dew of the sky’s bounty and the watery depths that lie beneath;
Deuteronomy 33:14 with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons;
Deuteronomy 33:15 with the best products of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the hills of the long past;
Deuteronomy 33:16 with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it; and with the favor of him who appeared in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.
Deuteronomy 33:17 His firstborn bull has splendor, and horns like those of a wild ox; he gores all the peoples with them to the ends of the land. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.

two legacies

Moses blesses the sons of Rachel here. He promises them the fullness of favored children. In future generations, great leaders and influential prophets will come from Benjamin and Joseph’s line. Even though the Messiah will come from Judah, Joseph’s commitment to God in times of trouble and times of success will show in the lives of his descendants.

You and I are building two legacies. People will remember us for the choices we make, and they will remember our descendants and disciples for the choices they make as well.

Lord, enable us to live responsibly, and to leave a legacy of commitment to you for those who follow us.

Happy Independence Day!

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Levi’s faithful one

Posted on July 3, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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Levi’s faithful one

Deuteronomy 33:8-11 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:8 He said about Levi: Your Darks and Lights belong to your faithful one; you tested him at Massah and contended with him at the Water of Meribah.
Deuteronomy 33:9 He said about his father and mother, “I do not regard them.” He disregarded his brothers and didn’t acknowledge his sons, because they watched your word and maintained your covenant.
Deuteronomy 33:10 They will teach your rules to Jacob and your instruction to Israel; they will place incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
Deuteronomy 33:11 Yahveh, empower his possessions, and accept the work of his hands. Break the back of his adversaries and enemies, so that they cannot rise again.

Levi’s faithful one

Levi was the tribe entrusted with the Darks and Lights — the way of determining the Lord’s direction in questions of uncertainty. They were entrusted with teaching the rules of the covenant in order to keep the covenant relationship. They were to maintain the worship in the tabernacle.

Under the new covenant, there is no one particular tribe or caste or specialized group who decides God’s direction for us. But if we are faithful to the Lord, he will show us his way. Levi’s faithful one is our faithful one — the Lord himself.

Lord, show us which way we should go — which choice we should make.

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king for a day

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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king for a day

Deuteronomy 33:4-7 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:4 Moses commanded us an instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob.
Deuteronomy 33:5 So he became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel.
Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Reuben stay alive and not die though his people become few.
Deuteronomy 33:7 He said this about Judah: Yahveh, hear Judah’s cry and bring him to his people. He fights for his cause with his own hands, but may you be a partner against his foes.

king for a day

Commentators disagree over who the “he” is in verse five. Some insist it is God, and some translations even supply the words “the LORD” in the verse, but the name is not there in the original text. The natural assumption of a reader is that Moses was acting as king as he pronounced blessings upon the tribes. But Moses never was installed as king, and this blessing was the last thing he was to do before climbing Mount Nebo and dying. So, if he did become king, he became king for a day. He had been servant of God for 120 years.

We never know what heights we will experience in God’s service, nor how long they will last. What matters is serving God no matter what position we hold. What matters is who holds us.

Lord, we commit ourselves to your service. You decide how.

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his sacred ones

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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his sacred ones

Deuteronomy 33:1-3 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 33:1 This is the empowerment that Moses, the man of God, empowered the Israelites with before his death.
Deuteronomy 33:2 He said: Yahveh came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; he shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand sacred ones, with lightning from his right hand for them.
Deuteronomy 33:3 Indeed he cares about the people. All your sacred ones are in your hand, and they assemble at your feet. Each receives your words.

his sacred ones

Who are these sacred ones of whom Moses speaks? Are they sacred angels, ready to do his bidding? Note the change in pronoun in verse 3. The sacred ones are in YOUR hand, and they assemble at YOUR feet. Who is the YOU to whom Moses is speaking? As part of his blessing to the Israelites, Moses encourages them to see that they are his army of sacred ones who can accomplish his mission. These Israelites and their children and grandchildren can get the job done if they only dared to try.

Believers in Christ are also his sacred ones. We, and those who come after us, are a mighty army equipped to accomplish his mission. We have his commands, and can get the job done if we only dare to try.

Lord, we dare to try. We accept your great commission, and are mustering your troops.

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his last summit

Posted on June 30, 2020 by Jefferson Vann
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his last summit

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 32:48 On that same day Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said:
Deuteronomy 32:49 “Go up Mount Nebo in the Abarim range in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan I am giving the Israelites as a possession.
Deuteronomy 32:50 Then you will die on the mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
Deuteronomy 32:51 For both of you betrayed me among the Israelites at the Water of Meribath-kadesh in the open country of Zin by failing to treat me as sacred in their presence.
Deuteronomy 32:52 Although from a distance you will view the land that I am giving the Israelites, you will not go there.”

his last summit

As a long-distance hiker, I have gone up a lot of mountains. Sometimes I am enticed by the prospect of a spectacular view at an overlook. I have seen a lot of those. Sometimes I go up just because the trail leads there, and I just have to tick off another summit on my long list.

Moses was getting ready to ascend a mountain that he would never come down. This was his last summit. He had led his people through the long distance hike to Canaan, but he would never reach the promised land himself. He faces an end that he doesn’t want, but knows that it is his fault.

If it were me, I would probably say to God that if he’s going to kill me anyway, I would just as soon skip this last climb. But that is not Moses. He may have failed at a lot of things in his life, but he was not going to fail here.

Lord, give us the courage to follow you, even if it is into the darkness.

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