The action of Moses at Meribah—quarreling—Numbers 20:1-13, at the beginning of Israel’s 40th year of wandering—cost him and Aaron the chance to enter the Promised land Numbers 20:12-13. One sin against God’s word that Moses committed in his 120th year, and after 39 years of leading Israel, forfeited his entrance into Canaan. Just as Uzzah’s one sin against God’s word cost his life II Samuel 6:6-7.
One sin in each case, Moses’ by anger, Uzzah’s in sincerity. While it’s an issue that critics love to surface, and believers tepidly defend, it’s the nature of Law. It defines wrongdoing against accepted norms of behavior. (And just because America’s litigious nature, fueled by lawyers who must sue to earn a living, weakens law, the police still enforce laws.) However, should anyone pity Moses for getting only a virtual tour of Canaan—the second of its kind in history. Abraham in Genesis first had the pleasure of a personal journey Genesis 12:6-9, 13:3-4; then a virtual tour, followed by a personal tour in Genesis 13:14-18. However, God chose Moses, the embodiment of Law, and Elijah, embodiment of Prophetic Preaching, to stand with Jesus at his Transfiguration, and discuss his embodiment as God in the flesh, replacing Law with Grace. While Law defines sin and punishes it according to its severity, Christ’s Grace empowers forgiven sinners to alter their mind, which alters their thinking, which alters their behavior. While some time may occur between the second and third step, the first assures eventual success in the next two. It’s not unusual in unforgiven humans to periodically: do good, be merciful, share with the unfortunate. They may even occasionally shame the forgiven by their humanness. Just as it isn’t unexpected that between Thanksgiving and Christmas, a resurgent, hopeful, positive spirit pervades American life, even in unbelievers. Don’t be deceived in either situation, however, What the unforgiven do by the vestiges of God’s image in their lives, Christians do as a consistent lifestyle by the Presence of the Holy Spirit creating new natures in old sinners.
1 Comment
Michael E Brown
13/10/2022 10:53:24 am
Wonderful stuff Virgil. Always informed by your teachings.
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