- The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States "Clear support for new leadership" for Friday, 30 September 2016
(RY: v, LY: iii) 7 Next Moshe summoned Y’hoshua and, in the sight of all Isra’el, said to him, “Be strong, be bold, for you are going with this people into the land Adonai swore to their ancestors he would give them. You will be the one causing them to inherit it. 8 But Adonai — it is he who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.”
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Numbers 27 told about Moses following God’s directions and authorizing Joshua to succeed
him in leading the Israelites. As Moses neared the end of his life, he made it plain to Israel that he was not irreplaceable: “The LORD told me ‘You won’t cross the Jordan River.’ But the LORD your God, he’s the one who will cross over before you!” Moses knew he’d led in God’s power, not his own. He blessed Joshua, and urged him and the people to fearlessly trust God.
• Have you ever seen a case in which a corporate leader, a government official, a church pastor or even a family patriarch clung to power too long, harming both himself/herself and the people they had served? What kind of attitude and inner spirit does it take to recognize, like Moses, that while we have gifts to offer, only our God is irreplaceable?
• Numbers 12:3 said, “Now the man Moses was humble, more so than anyone on earth.”
(Pastor Hamilton has observed that if Moses wrote that about himself, it wasn’t true!) If the first generation of Israelites had been willing to trust God and enter the Promised Land, surely Moses would have led them. Yet in his parting words, forty years later, we hear no trace of bitterness or blame. What lessons can you learn from Moses about dealing with disappointments, especially if other people have played a major role in them?
Prayer: O God, help me meet all of life’s ups and downs with grace, not necessarily because I am graceful but because you are gracious. I’m not Moses—but help me to learn from him. Amen.
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Insights from Ginger Rothhaas
Ginger Rothhaas is a seminary student at Saint Paul School of Theology and is serving in Congregational Care at The Church of the Resurrection.Not only is Moses known as one of the best leaders in human history, he also models what it means to be a mentor. As Moses faces the end of his life, he recognizes that he will not make it to see the Promised Land. He passes the proverbial baton to Joshua to lead the people onward and finish the journey.
I imagine many conversations occurred leading up to the time that Moses publicly announces and blesses this leadership transition. Based on Moses’ words in the announcement, I’m guessing the topic of fear had often surfaced in their discussions. Likely, Joshua is scared to accept this daunting calling.
Usually when we receive a Divine Assignment, or calling, we experience a fear that shows up as resistance in words such as:
- I’m not prepared.
- I’m not the right one.
- There has to be someone more qualified than me.
The best leaders and mentors will respond with:
God may be calling you, like Moses, to mentor others with these same words. Is there someone that needs to hear this from you? Your encouragement might be exactly what he or she needs to accept their Divine Assignment.
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"The visionary end of Moses’ Earthly Life"
Saturday, 1 October 2016
Deuteronomy 32:(Maftir) 48 That same day Adonai said to Moshe, 49 “Go up into the ‘Avarim Range, to Mount N’vo, in the land of Mo’av across from Yericho; and look out over the land of Kena‘an, which I am giving the people of Isra’el as a possession. 50 On the mountain you are ascending you will die and be gathered to your people, just as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
34:1 (vii) Moshe ascended from the plains of Mo’av to Mount N’vo, to the summit of Pisgah, across from Yericho. There Adonai showed him all the land — Gil‘ad as far as Dan, 2 all Naftali, the land of Efrayim and M’nasheh, the land of Y’hudah all the way to the sea beyond, 3 the Negev, and the ‘Aravah, including the valley where Yericho, the City of Date-Palms, as far away as Tzo‘ar. 4 Adonai said to him, “This is the land concerning which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.”
5 So Moshe, the servant of Adonai, died there in the land of Mo’av, as Adonai had said. 6 He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo’av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
7 Moshe was 120 years old when he died, with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished. 8 The people of Isra’el mourned Moshe on the plains of Mo’av for thirty days; after this, the days of crying and mourning for Moshe ended.
9 Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.
10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!
Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!
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At least from the time of the burning bush (cf. Exodus 3), and probably even earlier, Moses had a God-given vision: living in the Promised Land. Before his earthly life ended, God gave him a mountaintop view of the place he’d hoped and dreamed of. It seems likely that as Moses died he held in his mind that vision of the Promised Land’s beauty. Israel mourned, and remembered their great leader. But Moses’ story wasn’t over. He reappeared centuries later in the Bible’s story. If anything, now he had a greater honor—he was encouraging Jesus, the LORD he’d served all his life, as Jesus prepared to face the cross on which he would save the whole world (cf. Matthew 17:3).
• Moses was not alone in dying before his grand, God-given vision was fully realized. When Abraham died, the “great nation” God promised he would become was just one person—
his son Isaac. King David dreamed of building God a beautiful Temple, but his son, King
Solomon, got to build it. After listing many heroes of faith, the letter to the Hebrews said, “All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith” (Hebrews 11:39). The true Promised Land, toward which all God’s people
journey, is not in this dark, broken world—it is God’s eternal realm of light and unending
life, seen in vision in Revelation 21-22. What are your biggest God-given dreams? How can you pursue them fearlessly, knowing that beyond the limits of this world they will all come fully true in God’s eternal kingdom?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Moses (and your faithful servants who wrote and transmitted his story). Let me live my life energetically for you, with my ultimate hopes fixed on that wonderful day when both Moses and I can praise you in your eternal kingdom. Amen.
Family Activity: One way we experience a relationship with God is through Scripture. Create a box filled with Bible verses. Using colored paper, markers, ribbon, magazine cut-outs, family photos and other fun materials, decorate a shoebox or photo box to represent your family and your faith journey. Write some favorite Bible verses on colorful strips of paper and place them in the box. (Psalms is a great place to find many verses of praise and thanksgiving, as well as promises from God.) Once a day, maybe at mealtime, pull a strip from the box and share the
passage aloud. Ask older children and youth to join you in adding Bible texts to the box. Thank God for the gift of being in relationship with God and God’s Word.
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Shane Presley and family on the death of his grandmother Betty Curtis, 9/20
• Beth Hartwell and family on the death of her sister Jenny Wallace, 9/17
• Jeff and Jan Marrs and family on the death of their daughter Lane Marrs, 9/16
• Nancy Spoolstra and family on the death of her sister Carol Walker, 9/15
• Randall Rock and family on the death of his mother Emma Rock, 9/15
• Keith Erich and family on the death of his uncle Eldon Erich, 9/11
• Jeff Locklear and family on the death of his mother Mary Ann Locklear, 9/10
• Richard Messerschmidt and family on the death of his father Eldon Messerschmidt, 9/9
• Mike Patton and family on the death of his mother Betty June Patton, 9/8
• Debbie Noblitt and family on the death of her mother Eileen Smith, 9/7
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Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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- What are you afraid of?
- How can I help you?
God may be calling you, like Moses, to mentor others with these same words. Is there someone that needs to hear this from you? Your encouragement might be exactly what he or she needs to accept their Divine Assignment.
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"The visionary end of Moses’ Earthly Life"
Saturday, 1 October 2016
Deuteronomy 32:(Maftir) 48 That same day Adonai said to Moshe, 49 “Go up into the ‘Avarim Range, to Mount N’vo, in the land of Mo’av across from Yericho; and look out over the land of Kena‘an, which I am giving the people of Isra’el as a possession. 50 On the mountain you are ascending you will die and be gathered to your people, just as Aharon your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people.
34:1 (vii) Moshe ascended from the plains of Mo’av to Mount N’vo, to the summit of Pisgah, across from Yericho. There Adonai showed him all the land — Gil‘ad as far as Dan, 2 all Naftali, the land of Efrayim and M’nasheh, the land of Y’hudah all the way to the sea beyond, 3 the Negev, and the ‘Aravah, including the valley where Yericho, the City of Date-Palms, as far away as Tzo‘ar. 4 Adonai said to him, “This is the land concerning which I swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over there.”
5 So Moshe, the servant of Adonai, died there in the land of Mo’av, as Adonai had said. 6 He was buried in the valley across from Beit-P‘or in the land of Mo’av, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
7 Moshe was 120 years old when he died, with eyes undimmed and vigor undiminished. 8 The people of Isra’el mourned Moshe on the plains of Mo’av for thirty days; after this, the days of crying and mourning for Moshe ended.
9 Y’hoshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom, for Moshe had laid his hands on him, and the people of Isra’el heeded him and did what Adonai had ordered Moshe.
10 Since that time there has not arisen in Isra’el a prophet like Moshe, whom Adonai knew face to face. 11 What signs and wonders Adonai sent him to perform in the land of Egypt upon Pharaoh, all his servants and all his land! 12 What might was in his hand! What great terror he evoked before the eyes of all Isra’el!
Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!
-------
At least from the time of the burning bush (cf. Exodus 3), and probably even earlier, Moses had a God-given vision: living in the Promised Land. Before his earthly life ended, God gave him a mountaintop view of the place he’d hoped and dreamed of. It seems likely that as Moses died he held in his mind that vision of the Promised Land’s beauty. Israel mourned, and remembered their great leader. But Moses’ story wasn’t over. He reappeared centuries later in the Bible’s story. If anything, now he had a greater honor—he was encouraging Jesus, the LORD he’d served all his life, as Jesus prepared to face the cross on which he would save the whole world (cf. Matthew 17:3).
• Moses was not alone in dying before his grand, God-given vision was fully realized. When Abraham died, the “great nation” God promised he would become was just one person—
his son Isaac. King David dreamed of building God a beautiful Temple, but his son, King
Solomon, got to build it. After listing many heroes of faith, the letter to the Hebrews said, “All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith” (Hebrews 11:39). The true Promised Land, toward which all God’s people
journey, is not in this dark, broken world—it is God’s eternal realm of light and unending
life, seen in vision in Revelation 21-22. What are your biggest God-given dreams? How can you pursue them fearlessly, knowing that beyond the limits of this world they will all come fully true in God’s eternal kingdom?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Moses (and your faithful servants who wrote and transmitted his story). Let me live my life energetically for you, with my ultimate hopes fixed on that wonderful day when both Moses and I can praise you in your eternal kingdom. Amen.
Family Activity: One way we experience a relationship with God is through Scripture. Create a box filled with Bible verses. Using colored paper, markers, ribbon, magazine cut-outs, family photos and other fun materials, decorate a shoebox or photo box to represent your family and your faith journey. Write some favorite Bible verses on colorful strips of paper and place them in the box. (Psalms is a great place to find many verses of praise and thanksgiving, as well as promises from God.) Once a day, maybe at mealtime, pull a strip from the box and share the
passage aloud. Ask older children and youth to join you in adding Bible texts to the box. Thank God for the gift of being in relationship with God and God’s Word.
-------
-------
Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Shane Presley and family on the death of his grandmother Betty Curtis, 9/20
• Beth Hartwell and family on the death of her sister Jenny Wallace, 9/17
• Jeff and Jan Marrs and family on the death of their daughter Lane Marrs, 9/16
• Nancy Spoolstra and family on the death of her sister Carol Walker, 9/15
• Randall Rock and family on the death of his mother Emma Rock, 9/15
• Keith Erich and family on the death of his uncle Eldon Erich, 9/11
• Jeff Locklear and family on the death of his mother Mary Ann Locklear, 9/10
• Richard Messerschmidt and family on the death of his father Eldon Messerschmidt, 9/9
• Mike Patton and family on the death of his mother Betty June Patton, 9/8
• Debbie Noblitt and family on the death of her mother Eileen Smith, 9/7
-------
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
-------
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