(This nugget will be very different from all the others. In this nugget
there will be quite a bit of liberality taken with the scriptures as to
literalness. It is my intent to bring out points that may cause you to
reflect on what these men suffered for their prize and provoke meditation on
these scriptures.)
Deuteronomy 34:1-5 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto
the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho.
And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, 2 And all
Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah,
unto the utmost sea, 3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of
Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 4 And the LORD said unto him,
This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob,
saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with
thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. 5 So Moses the servant of
the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
In the above verses we are presented with a brief account of Moses last
moments before his death on a peak called Pisgah on the mountain of Nebo.
What a sad account it is as God says to this renowned prophet of God; "you
can look but you can't touch". The thoughts that must have raced through
Moses mind as he looks out across the panoramic landscape.
"What do you see Moses?" "Well LORD, I see a land that I have waited 40 yrs
to enter and walked hundreds of miles to get to and now you tell me I can
look but I can't go over." "LORD, this breaks my heart."
Imagine if you will the thoughts and feelings of Moses as he scans the
verdant land all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Up to the mountains of
Syria in the land of Dan down to the Egyptian border. A land flowing with
milk and honey. His eyes gaze across soon to be built villages and later
cities. His eyes gaze across Judah and the hills that will become Jerusalem.
Without knowing it he will take in a view that will include Calvary and the
Temple mount. Disappointment fills his heart while tears fill his eyes.
Moses is faced with the awful pronouncement of God's righteous judgment for
a sin committed. Instead of Moses triumphant entry into Canaan at the head
of the army of Israel he will be placed in an unmarked grave in a valley in
the land of Moab.
While Moses did not get to enter the physical land of Israel at this time we
know that God used Moses later as he appeared with Elijah on another
mountain in the land of Israel(Matt. 17:1-3). It is also my firm belief that
it will be Moses with Elijah as one ot the two witnesses in Rev. 11:3-12.
Another mountain and another time.
Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of
them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt
fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve.
"Well, Son of God; what do you see?"
"Well Satan; I see all the kingdoms of God's creation."
"You are a king are you not? You don't have a kingdom, and yet I own all
these!" "If you will just bow before me I will give them to you". "All this
can be yours NOW!"
"I can wait." "You may be the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and have
control for the moment but my Father owns it all. I can wait."
"Look again, you might change your mind." "What do you see?"
"I see Jerusalem and a hill just outside the gate. It's shaped like a
skull." "I can wait."
One more mountain and yet another time.
Revelation 21:9-11 And there came unto me one of the seven angels
which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with
me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And
he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me
that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious,
even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;
"John; what do you see?" "Oh, most holy angel I see HOME!"
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God,
believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
While we think on these three very different accounts each has a common
thread. They deal with a look and a longing for a final home. Moses had
labored so long yet he must wait a few more millennia before he can arrive.
Jesus, as a mortal man, looked across space and time to the land of his
Kingdom to a future home where he would rule and reign for a thousand years
with His redeemed (Rev. 20:1-6). Standing between Him and that fulfillment
of a kingdom stood a hill called Calvary, the place of the skull (John
19:17). He knew what lay ahead but He also knew that He would rather wait
and suffer rather than to bow before this evil being. He also could
see the souls that would be redeemed by His suffering. John looks
through spiritual eyes from a great high mountain and sees the culmination
of all God's promises. He can truthfully say "I SEE HOME". Three mountains
and three homes. The land of Israel, the earthly Kingdom and the New
Jerusalem. None of the three could realize their dreams at the moment. Each
must wait but it would be worth it all.
Friend, is it worth the wait and journey to you? Look what Moses
suffered through 40 years. Look what Jesus suffered at the hands of the
Jews. Look what John suffered on the Isle of Patmos. Are you willing to
undergo the trials and possible suffering for the prize that awaits those
who endure?
These three were.
This Bible nugget is presented and authored by Brother Dwight .
Poetry Corner
In The Holy Mountains
There is shelter in His Mountains
And gardens that smell sweet
Gladness fills the hearts of those
As the Shepherd here will greet.
Greet them and offer pastures
That feed His timid sheep
Upon the holy mountains
Guarded in His keep.
Streams sing softly in the light
Quenching the thirst of a fawn
Peaceful is the blessed season
And the gift of every dawn.
Golden flowers are everywhere
A site to behold and see
Perfumed scents, they freely share
Then rise and float to Heaven.
Beautiful are His Mountains,
That nourish the good flock
Led by One who loves them
Our Shepherd and our Rock.
Psalm 87:1 His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Isaiah 40: 11 He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd:
he shall gather the lambs with his arm,
and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those
that are with young.
Poetry By Julie Pisacane
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Posted By Pages Of My Heart Ministry to Pages of My Heart Ministry at 8/17/2007 09:39:00 AM