Scripture Daily

Context No. 3444 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Context · Reflection

Deuteronomy 3:23-29: in context

23I begged GOD at that time, saying, 24“Lord GOD, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours? 25Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that fine mountain, and Lebanon.” 26But the LORD was angry with me because of you, and didn’t listen to me. The LORD said to me, “That is enough! Speak no more to me of this matter. 27Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes; for you shall not go over this Jordan. 28But commission Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.” 29So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.

Moses pours out a longing prayer: let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon. He has led the people forty years through the wilderness toward this land, and now he begs to set foot in it. But God says no, because of the earlier failure at the waters, and tells him not to ask again: that is enough; speak no more to me of this matter.

It is a hard answer, and yet notice how God tempers it with grace. He lets Moses see the whole land from the top of Pisgah, and he turns Moses' attention outward, to commissioning and strengthening Joshua, who will lead the people in. Moses accepts the limit and pours his remaining energy into preparing his successor. There is a lesson in receiving a no from God with grace, in not being consumed by the door that is closed, but turning instead to serve the work that will continue beyond us, and to prepare those who will carry it on when we cannot.

When God says no to something I long for, can I accept it with grace, turning to serve the work that continues beyond me rather than being consumed by the closed door?

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