Reviews, blessings, curses, and changing of the guard...

Reviews, blessings,  curses, and changing of the “guard”...

The last word in the book of Numbers is “Jericho”...

These are the commandments and the rules that the Lord commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Numbers 36:13 

And the first words of Deuteronomy....

These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 

See, I have set the land before you. 

Go in and take possession of the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their offspring after them.’ The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are today as numerous as the stars of heaven. 

May the Lord, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are and bless you, as he has promised you! 

Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ 

And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.

Deuteronomy 1:1,8,10-11,13,18

It seems there is a change, a review of the Israelites...they have moved from slavery to the edge of the promised land...Moses as their leader, mentor, stops to review their times, their God-given laws, their relationships, their covenants, their past, and their future...

He is handing over the Torch...

Like Paul in 2 Timothy, Moses wants them to carry on...

Moses so wanted to entered the promised land, but his leadership has come to an end...

“And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, ‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’ So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Deuteronomy 3:23-29

Paul, in prison, may have known his end is coming as well...

Both, Moses and Paul encourage their followers, review...mentoring ....

Moses reviews the laws given, the journey taken...sees the land promised..the covenants agreed upon...

Paul uses the word “entrust” several times as he exhorts Timothy ...

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

Moses speaks of the Law, while Paul speaks of promise of the life that is in Jesus Christ...who is the fulfillment of that  Law...

Two men at their end, wanting the best for their followers, those who come after...both seeking the Promise...

As an elder, now myself...I so want those whom  I have “led”, either family or those entrusted to me over the years to seek that promised “land” as well...to follow God...

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,  who will be able to teach others also. 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

2 Timothy 2:2,15,22,24,3:14-17,4:22 

Thank YOU for the review of Moses and Paul...the new beginnings...the promises kept...the mentors before and after...the encouragements to move, to follow, to move forward...

Their reflections and admonishments...