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Moses Is Dead


After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. (Joshua 1:1-4)

          After Moses died, Israel had mourned for thirty days. I can imagine Joshua being reluctant. I can imagine the Israelites being reluctant. None of them except Joshua and Caleb could remember a time when Moses was not their leader. Joshua had been a leader for more than forty years, but now he was the leader. This is close to the situation our young adults face in the upcoming election. Those who are voting for the first time probably don't really remember a time when liberal Progressives haven't been in charge. For many, the conservative impulse will be to maintain the status quo. The radical or countercultural response is to change direction. 
          I can imagine the questions going through Joshua's mind. With Moses gone, would the people listen to him? Now that the moment had come to stop being pilgrims and start being warriors, would they be ready? Sure, they'd fought before, but those had been a different kind of fight. This fight would be "the real deal." They would finally get what they'd been promised. It was up to him to make sure they lived up to their part of the bargain. How could he possibly manage that? 
         I haven't led an army, but I have waited for an introduction so that I could say things that I hoped would make a difference in people's lives. I've felt the butterflies.... Will they get it? Will they do anything about it? Will they even give me a chance, or will they decide that I'm a fool without bothering to listen? Am I crazy to think that my message will help? I have no means of imposing my plans on them. If they don't accept my "leadership," there's nothing I can do. What if I am wrong? And then my name is given and I have no choice, I am "on stage" and have to say something.
         I understand God's call to take action. It's not always about leading an army. Sometimes, it can be about leading yourself, and you're a much a rebel as the Israelites were. Those golden calves, or golden coins, or golden trophies, or golden cameras, or golden sunsets, or golden rings, or golden buffets...they're so tempting. We have lives to live. Some of us have lived lives and we deserve to scale it back, to enjoy our golden years. Have you come to one of those moments, perhaps for the second or third time, when you have to choose: move forward, turn back, settle down and stay put? There are people watching. Moses is dead...it's time to go take that promised land, even if it's only in your head. That seems to be part of the message I'm getting this fall. I'm going over the Jordan and down to Zephyrhills, and once there, I have work to do. It's likely to involve battle, at least with myself. And with that in mind, I know that I will need wisdom, direction and a good attitude.

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