8 July 2010
Psalm 18:1-20; Deut. 3:18-28; Rom. 9:19-33; Matt. 24:1-14

Moses recounts how he lost the right to enter the Land. It is surely with deep regret that this man who has so ably and patiently led this people must now die before possessing the promise, but his disobedience cost him that blessing. He does have some final things to say to the people by way of instruction for how they are to live in the land. He begins by reminding the tribes who chose to have the land on the other side of the Jordan that they have a promise to keep to all the others to assist them in gaining their own land and by reminding all the people that the Lord has done great things for them. It is at this time that we learn that Joshua will be the new leader. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone given his position next to Moses for lo these many years, but it is now official.

Jesus prepares His disciples for their own experience of life without Him physically present. It sounds remarkably less happy an existence than was promised to the Israelites on entering the Land. There is nothing pleasant about Jesus’ prophecy. He is telling them the world is only going to get worse and there will be many who come claiming to be Messiah and some will be led astray. Perseverance is the order of the day. Somehow we have come to a place and time when popular preachers promise only good things for Christians. I wonder if these have ever actually read anything of Jesus’ prophetic words concerning the time between His going to the Father and His coming again.

God’s will is inscrutable, it is not to be known by us. That does not mean that God has chosen to hide from us, it means that due to our sin we have hidden from Him and now we are so marred by sin and by our creaturliness that we are unable to know. In Jesus we know of His love for us as His children and that is likewise a great mystery as we know ourselves to be unlovable, it is simply His choice. Paul sees that faith is the key to salvation, not attempts at righteousness. Election is a doctrine of the church that should again drive us to our knees and praise Him for amazing grace.

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
so I shall be saved from my enemies.