Being Found Faithful

Deuteronomy 32:48-52 & Numbers 20:1–12

Imagine a rugged landscape, bathed in the warm hues of a setting sun. In the center stands Moses, a figure of wisdom and strength, his weathered face reflecting years of leadership and communion with the Divine.
As the gathered Israelites hush in anticipation, Moses begins to speak, his voice carrying the weight of a lifetime's worth of guidance and instruction. He recalls the journey they have undertaken, from their escape from Egypt's chains to their trials and triumphs in the wilderness.
With his words, Moses paints a vivid picture of the land that they have longed for—a land flowing with milk and honey. He describes its fertile valleys, rolling hills, and shimmering rivers, igniting a sense of longing within his people's hearts.
But then, his tone shifts. A somber tone envelops his words as he recounts the reasons why he won't be joining them in this Promised Land. His eyes convey both sorrow and determination as he reminds them of their history of rebellion and disbelief, which led to God's decree that he would not enter the land.
The people listen, their hearts heavy with the weight of his words. Yet, amid the sadness, Moses imparts a final lesson—a lesson of obedience and consequence. He warns them of the perils of turning away from the path of righteousness, reminding them that their choices will shape their destiny.
As Moses concludes his speech, the sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows that seem to mirror the uncertainty of the Israelites' future. The atmosphere is one of somberness, yet also one of renewed commitment. The people are reminded that their journey is not only a physical one, but a spiritual and moral one as well.
And so, under the vast expanse of the starlit sky, the Israelites carry with them Moses' words—a legacy of faith, resilience, and the importance of staying true to their covenant with God, even in the face of challenges.

I would like to start my sermon this morning with a puzzle and wonder if you can figure it out:
What is it that is greater than God?
More evil than Satan?
Rich people DON’T have it?
Poor people DO have it?
And if you eat it… you will die?

Answer: NOTHING
Nothing is greater than God
Nothing is more evil than Satan
Rich people don’t have nothing
Poor people do
And if you eat nothing… you’ll die

The puzzle makes sense once you know the answer.
But until you know the answer, it is really confusing.
AND that’s the case with our story this morning.

Moses is taken to the top of Mt. Nebo and told by God: “take a look before you die, because you’re not going to get into the Promised Land. This is all you get to see.
Really?
Why?

Deuteronomy 32:51 explains:
“This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.”
What was this all about?

Well, let’s go back and read the story.
It only shows up in Numbers 20:1-12
“In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh.
There Miriam died and was buried.
Now there was no water for the community,
and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.

They quarreled with Moses and said, ‘If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!
Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?
Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?

It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates.
And there is no water to drink!’
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown,
and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.

The LORD said to Moses,
‘Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together.
SPEAK to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.’

So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence,
just as he commanded him.
He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them,
‘Listen, you rebels, must WE bring you water out of this rock?’

Then Moses raised his arm and STRUCK THE ROCK twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites,
you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’

What had Moses done wrong?
1st – he got angry with the mob of protestors.
2nd – he claimed HE was getting water from the rock…
when it was actually God.
And 3rd he had disobeyed God.
God said speak to the rock…
Moses struck it with the staff.

For that, Moses was refused entry into the Promised Land and died in the wilderness.
That’s it!
That’s the whole story.
• He got mad
• He claimed credit
• And he disobeyed God
But something about this story just doesn’t make sense.
It’s like a puzzle with a couple of pieces missing.

Moses has been leading the people of Israel in the desert for 40 years, and for most of those 40 years it had been no picnic. These people have been extremely difficult.
• They’ve complained and bickered and they’ve been rebellious.
• They’ve insulted Moses.
• They’ve rejected God’s will.
• And frankly, they’ve basically been a real pain to work with.

But in spite of that, for most of that 40 years Moses has been the ideal leader. He seems to actually care for these folks.
• He’s prayed for them.
• He’s reasoned with them.
• And he’s interceded with God for them.

At one point God got so angry with the Israelites that God says “stand back and let me destroy these wicked people.
Then we will start over again with just you.”
But Moses refuses and intercedes for God to spare them.

On top of that, Moses seems to have been one of the few men in Scripture that God personally praises.

We’re told in Numbers 12:3
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
It’s like God was saying that Moses shined so brightly the rest of the world seemed tarnished.
That’s high praise from God.

So here we have Moses –
just months away from crossing the Jordan River and he slips up ONE TIME.
He loses his temper ONE TIME.
And he’s denied access to the Promised Land.

Over the years in Bible Studies,
Sermons presented, etc. many individuals have felt that This just didn’t seem fair!
That it just doesn’t seem right!
This shouldn’t happen to someone like Moses!

And if this were the “last chapter” of the story, they’d be right.
It’s not fair.
But this isn’t the last chapter.
There’s more to the story than appears at first glance.

We can often see in our reading of the scriptures how our God loves to paint pictures?
All through the Old Testament God repeatedly gives us images that tell us about Jesus and what He’d be like... and what He’d do.

If you look through the Law you’ll see pictures of Jesus in the sacrifices.
If you examine the instructions on how they were to construct the Tabernacle, you’ll find images of Jesus that show up in all the materials and measurements of every corner of that tent.

And in the Old Testament stories of the heroes and heroines you’ll not just see true stories of those people,
but you’ll see how God weaves that truth in such a way that their very lives and stories point to Christ.

For example, Abraham offering his only begotten son Isaac as a sacrifice was a portrait of what God was going to do through Jesus.

Many of the old hymns reflected that truth.
For example, there’s an old hymn written in the 1800’s by Tullius C. O’Kane titled “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”
which is Number 461 in our song book.

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye;
To Canaan’s fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie.
We shall rest in the fair and happy land by and by,
Just across on the evergreen shore,
sing the song of Moses and the Lamb
By and-by-and dwell with Jesus evermore.

But now, how do we get INTO heaven?
Do we get in by doing good works?
Do we get in by obeying the commandments of the OT law?
Even though these things couldn’t hurt
we would have to NO,
we only get into Heaven by following Jesus.
The LAW (Moses) could not lead His people into His Promised Land.

Only JESUS (the Savior) could do that.

Paul wrote in Romans 3:20 “no-one will be declared righteous in (God’s) sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

Galatians 2:16 says “a man is NOT JUSTIFIED by observing the law, but by FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ
and NOT BY OBSERVING THE LAW, because by observing the law no-one will be justified.”

No matter how good you’ve been,
when you stand before God at the judgment,
you can’t point to YOUR righteousness and expect God to be impressed.

Your righteousness won’t get you into heaven.
Jesus’ Righteousness will!
Now let’s review:
Why couldn’t Moses get into the Promised Land? (HE SINNED)
How many sins did Moses commit?
One!
Did you realize that it only takes ONE sin to keep you out of heaven?
That’s what God was teaching us here with Moses…
it only takes ONE sin.

James 2:10 says “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
So, we have Moses –
one of the greatest men who ever lived.
A man greatly respected by God.
A man who dealt gently with one of the most quarrelsome difficult people on earth.

A man who KNEW the Law… and had his ducks all in a row.
This man commits ONE SIN…
and he doesn’t get into the Promised Land.

How many sins have we committed in our lives?

If Moses couldn’t get into the Promised Land because he committed one sin...
what makes you or I think we can get into heaven committing more than that?

That's it.
Game over.
We may as well go home.
But one last thought:
Did Moses EVER get into the Promised Land?

Well, let’s look at Matthew 17:1-3:
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter,
James and John the brother of James,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
There he was transfigured before them.
His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Just then there appeared before them MOSES and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”

So did Moses get into the Promised Land.
Yes he did!
But how did he get there?
Only thru Jesus.

Moses didn’t make it because he was a great man,
or a man made righteous by the Law.
The only way he got in was because Jesus brought him.
But there was more:

Matthew 17:4-8 “Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here;
if You wish,
let us make here three tabernacles:
one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking,
behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them;
and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Hear Him!”
And when the disciples heard it,
they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them and said,
“Arise, and do not be afraid.”
8When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only..”

Moses was there, and Elijah was there.
These were the two greatest men of the Old Testament.
Moses was the representative of the Law
and Elijah the greatest of the prophets.

And Peter was amazed and sought to honor all of them.
But then a cloud came and a voice said:
“This is my Son,
whom I love;
with him I am well pleased.
LISTEN TO HIM!”

The disciples fell to their knees
and when they looked up… what did they see?
Only Jesus.
Moses and Elijah had disappeared in the mist because God was making a point:
LOOK AT AND LISTEN TO Jesus.

Moses and his Law won’t get you into heaven.
Elijah and the power of miracles won’t get you into heaven.
We need to LOOK AT and LISTEN TO no one except Jesus - because HE is our only hope of salvation.
Peter apparently learned his lesson well.

In Acts 4:12 Peter declares:
“Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."