February 22 - Numbers 26-27: Disciplined Service

The Israelites have been wandering in the desert for a long time, and now God is preparing them to enter the Promised Land, beginning with a second census.

These are the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar, the priest, the People of Israel counted in the Plains of Moab at Jordan-Jericho. Not one of them had been among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest in the census of the People of Israel taken in the Wilderness of Sinai. (26:63-64)

God kept his promise. Other than Joshua and Caleb, none of the Israelites who left Egypt in the exodus will enter the land flowing with milk and honey, not even Moses.

It seems like this would be a painful time for Moses. Despite his decades of hard work in Egypt and especially in the wilderness, God tells him he will die before the Israelites enter the Promised Land. If I were Moses, I'd probably be feeling resentful, unappreciated, and perhaps a tad jealous. I might even be pouting and saying, "Unfair!"

I think that's why Moses' initial response to God is so amazing to me. When God reminds him why he won't get to finish the journey, this is what Moses says:

"Let God, the God of the spirits of everyone living, set a man over this community to lead them, to show the way ahead and bring them back home so God's community will not be like sheep without a shepherd." (27:15-17)

He doesn't complain about unfairness or excuse his sin or demand his rights or spew resentment. Instead, he asks God to provide a man who will lead and care for the Israelites. He thinks about his followers first, not himself! And when God tells him to prepare Joshua to take over, Moses followed God's orders. (27:22)

What?? No drama? No temper tantrums? No rallying the supporters to protest? Incredible.

I'm far more accustomed to leaders who can't let go, who can't graciously step aside when the time comes, who can't stand to be out of the spotlight. Yet here we have this great example of a man full of God's Spirit, a quietly humble man, more so than anyone living on Earth. (12:3)

"The word humble has lost its original force in English. When we think of someone who is humble, we think of a timid and mild person. But the ancients described a humble person as someone with enormous vitality who has been trained for service. A stallion trained for service is humble. An athlete disciplined for excellence is humble. Humility is the process of channeling energy into the work of God for others. And Moses, over the course of his life with God, learned to channel his vitality into disciplined service." Eugene Peterson, Conversations, pg. 211

Lord, thank You for the beautiful example we have in Moses. I pray that You will channel my energy and passion into disciplined service for You, no matter what assignment You give me. May You teach me to be a quietly humble woman who trusts You implicitly, obeys You wholeheartedly, and loves You more than anything else this world offers.