Lift up your eyes

49.m. Wilderness – 13.s. “I pleaded with the LORD at that time”

Deu 3:23-29 “And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’ So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

Moses knew God was rich in mercy and forgiveness. He knew there was no harm in asking God to relent from His previous judgment that Moses would not see the Promised Land. We can appreciate what a painful thing this was for Moses. He lived the first 40 years of his life confident in his own ability to deliver Israel. He spent the next 40 years of his life having that confidence demolished as he tended his father-in-law’s sheep. He spent the last 40 years of his life being used of God to do what he was called to do. Now, he was not allowed to see the end result. No wonder Moses pleaded with the LORD.

God did not want to hear Moses’ appeal on this matter. Because of his sin at Meribah (Numbers 20), where he misrepresented God as being angry with Israel when He was not, Moses could not enter the Promised Land. This may seem an excessively harsh punishment for Moses. It seemed that after only one slip-up, he then had to die short of the Promised Land. But Moses was being judged by a stricter standard because of his leadership position with the nation, and because he had a uniquely close relationship with God. It is right for teachers and leaders to be judged by a stricter standard (James 3:1); though it is unrighteous to hold teachers and leaders to a perfect standard. It is true the people’s conduct was worse than Moses’, but it is irrelevant. (Guzik)

Moses prayed, that, if it were God’s will, he might go before Israel, over Jordan into Canaan. We should never allow any desires in our hearts, which we cannot in faith offer up to God by prayer. God’s answer to this prayer had a mixture of mercy and judgment. God sees it good to deny many things we desire. He may accept our prayers, yet not grant us the very things we pray for. It God does not by his providence give us what we desire, yet if by his grace he makes us content without, it comes to much the same. Let it suffice thee to have God for thy Father, and heaven for thy portion, though thou hast not every thing thou wouldst have in the world. God promised Moses a sight of Canaan from the top of Pisgah. Though he should not have the possession of it, he should have the prospect of it. Even great believers, in this present state, see heaven but at a distance. God provided him a successor. It is a comfort to the friends of the church of Christ, to see God’s work likely to be carried on by others, when they are silent in the dust. And if we have the earnest and prospect of heaven, let these suffice us; let us submit to the Lord’s will, and speak no more to Him of matters which he sees good to refuse us. (Henry)

36.g. “For I will give it to you”

Genesis 13:14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Those are best prepared for the visits of Divine grace, whose spirits are calm, and not ruffled with passion. God will abundantly make up in spiritual peace, what we lose for preserving neighbourly peace. When our relations are separated from us, yet God is not. Observe also the promises with which God now comforted and enriched Abram. Of two things he assures him; a good land, and a numerous issue to enjoy it. The prospects seen by faith are more rich and beautiful than those we see around us. God bade him walk through the land, not to think of fixing in it, but expect to be always unsettled, and walking through it to a better Canaan. He built an altar, in token of his thankfulness to God. When God meets us with gracious promises, he expects that we should attend him with humble praises. In outward difficulties, it is very profitable for the true believer to mediate on the glorious inheritance which the Lord has for him at the last.(Henry)

Promises are given to us by God….hope, peace, joy, forgiveness, shelter, love, grace, mercy, refuge, courage…..eternal life. These promises, as such, can only be fulfilled and proclaimed by God alone. The world will try to make like promises but has no means to follow through on them. God can and does follow through on His promises. All of God’s promises have one thing in common for the recipient – obedience. Without obedience these promises are void. Without faith these promises are meaningless. A person can claim to know of the promise of eternal life and actually believe they have it while never living in obedience, repenting of their sin, or following, trusting, and relying on Jesus Christ. The promise of forgiveness of sin, eternal life, joy for today, and hope for tomorrow requires repentance, acknowledging and turning away from sin, and complete faith, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ. There are no substitutions for the obedience requirements associated with the promises of God. Suffice it to say, just as there are promises of eternal life through obedience, there are promises for lives of disobedience – eternal hell and torment. To deny the promise of eternal hell and torment cancels the need for the promise of eternal life. Watering down or lessening obedience under the guise of God’s promises of grace, mercy, and love alone without the need for continued obedience and life-changing repentance, and faith-filled acts of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in all thoughts, words, and deeds are nothing more than man’s attempt to gain the promises of God while living apart from Him and obedient reliance in Him.

Do not think for a single minute that the promises of God are separated from continued growing obedience to Him.

Genesis 13:14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Genesis 28:14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Deuteronomy 3:23 “And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’ But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan.

Abraham and Moses were both given a promise. Both were give to righteous men. Yet the promise was different in it’s intention. To Abraham, he was told to look east, west, north, and south and that it was all given to him. To Moses, he was told to look east, west, north, and south and that he would see it but not cross the Jordan and set foot on the possession but Joshua would.

Living for God has promises that direct us to keep our eyes on that which is to come, heaven. No matter what direction we look, we have promises of love, joy, peace and rest. As well we have promises of trials, pain, and work. In both we have God who loves us and wants us to desire Him and life eternal. The problem seems to be that we get so caught up in the temporary things of this life as we look to the east, west, north, south, that it over clouds our thinking of what our life should be all about.

The promise of eternal life through Christ ought to over shadow all that is temporary in this life no matter what direction is before us. This promise alone should make our hearts thankful and our actions worthy of serving, honoring, and glorifying God.

How easily do we forget the promises of God’s all powerful hand, awesome power, steadfast love, ever present guidance and place of refuge? Too often I would guess.

Stay in His word, learn of and trust in His promises, and keep your eyes on serving, honoring, glorifying Him until that eternal day arrives. Do not let your eyes and heart get distracted by what is to the east, west, north, or south.

Who is a God like you

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

“Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,”

Psalms 108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

Micah 7:18-20 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 51:2-11 For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. “Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed. “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings.

11 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Who is like God? When we think of His love, grace, and mercy do we put it in context of “Our Sin”? When we think of His anger, judgement, wrath do we think of it in the context of “Others Sins”? One of these views results in joy, peace, safety, hope, strength, courage, rest, and praise to God. The other view results in a life critical of others, complacent neglect because the inner self is not examined. Praise to God does not come from looking at others sins in light of our perceived righteous actions, no it comes from knowing God, His holiness, and a deep understanding of our sinful nature. We find this in and through His word. God’s word is sharper than a two edged sword, able to divide the thought and intents of man. Spend time in His word and let it speak to your heart, soul and mind. In and through it and His promises we find hope and peace.

Loving kindness of God

“and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith”

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,”

Psalms 24:5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Isaiah 51:5 My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

Romans 3:22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Psalms 128:1-5 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.

Titus 3:4-6 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

When you think of “Blessings from God” what comes to mind? Is it peace of mind, material, shelter, comfort, rest, strength, love, health, protection, family, fellow believers, His word, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, wisdom…… The list can go on and on. Who are we that we should be blessed by God, the creator? Do we deserve it? Can we earn it? Righteousness and subsequent blessings are from God to those who, by faith in Jesus Christ, desire to humbly serve, honor, glorify, and obey Him. I doubt we fully understand what is means to “love God with all our mind, heart, and soul”. However continually seeking His will and purpose in our life will grow us in this understanding. Walking with God is so much more than faith in Him. It is a heart deep desire to serve and obey Him. We grow our understanding of Him as we spend time in His word, listening to what is says to our heart, and obeying God’s leading. Our blessing begin with our understanding of Him, His purpose for our lives, and a desire to serve and obey Him.

Awesome & Mighty God

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host”

“In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.”

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”

Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Isaiah 40:22-26 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

Romans 1:19-20 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Jeremiah 10:11-12 Thus shall you say to them: “The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.” It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

Acts 14:16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

Acts 17:23-30 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,

Have you ever read scripture and your eyes have been opened to God’s greatness. These are scripture that were recorded over thousands of years proclaiming God’s awesome power and creation. Our God is alive, awesome in power, and might. As we end a year and start a new one, begin it with purpose to renew your walk with Him with the choice to humble serve, honor and glorify Him each day. Discipline yourself to spend time in His word each day and watch (as the old hymn says) “morning by morning new mercies I see.” HAPPY NEW YEAR IN THE LORD