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Moses:theEpicFailurePsalm90ThePsalms(no.21intheseries)Nov10,2019PeterHiettVideoandaudioversionsavailableonline:https://relentless-love.org/sermons/moses-the-epic-failure/Transcriptdocumentpreparedby:HeatherEades(eades.heather@gmail.com)ThisdocumentwaspreparedbyHeatherEadesusingPeter’snotesandthevideoversionofthissermon.Ifyouencounteranysignificantdiscrepanciesorerrorsinthisdocument,pleaseletHeatherknow.Thankyou!

PrayerLordGod,youknowthatweeachcomeherethismorningwithfearandshame.YouknowitmakesusinsulateourheartsandthrowupablockadetoprotectusfromyourWord.So,LordGod,weoffertoyounowourfearsandourshame.(Infact,whenIsaidthosewords,youprobablythoughtofsomething.Soputitinajar,handittoJesus,andsay,“Lord,I’dliketohearyourWord.”HisWordisgood.)Father,it’sinJesusnamewepraythesethings.Amen.

Message“APrayerofMoses,TheManofGod.”

That’sthetitleofPsalm90,andwhyIwantedtopreachonthisPsalm.IwonderwhatMoseswouldpray?WhatdoyouthinkMoseswouldpray?ForthelastfifteenyearsI’vebeenratherfascinatedwithMoses—IkindoffeelanaffinitywithMoses.

Videoclip:TheTenCommandmentsParamountPictures(1956)

Mosesstandsbeforethecrowdsholdingthestonetablet.

Moses(CharltonHeston)“Blashphemers,idolaters—Forthisyoushalldrinkbitterwaters.Godhas(set)beforeyouthisdayhislawsoflifeandgoodanddeathandEvil.Thosewhowillnotlivebythelaw,shalldiebythelaw!

Thegoldencalfisdestroyedandsceneendsinrubbleanddestruction.

IfeelanaffinitywithMoses,butnotsomuchthatMoses,butthisMoses:

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Videoclip:HistoryoftheWorld:Part1TwentiethCenturyFox(1981)

Narrator MoseswenttothemountainandGodspokeuntohim.God Moses,thisistheLordthyGod,commandingyoutoobeymylaw!Doyouhear

me?Moses(MelBrooks) Yes,Ihearyou,Ihearyou!Adeafmancouldhearyou.God What?Moses Nothing.Forgetit.Oh,Lord.Whyhaveyouchosenme?Whatwouldyouhave

medoforyou?God Ishallgiveyoumylaws...andyoushalltakethemuntothepeople.Moses Yes,Lord!

[thunder]

Moses Wow!

Mosesexitsthenbrieflyreturnscarryingthestonetablets.

Moses Lord,Ishallgivetheselawsuntothypeople.(tothepeople)Hearme!Oh,hearme!Allpayheed!TheLord,theLordJehovah,hasgiven

untoyouthese15—

(dropsatabletanditbreaks)

Moses(continuing) Oy!–10!10commandmentsforalltoobey!IthinkIfeelanaffinitywithMoses,becauseMoseswasanepicfailure.Forsomereasonweseemtoforgetthat,andalwaysrewritethestorysothatMoseslookslikeCharltonHestonwithagreattan.ButScripturesaysthathewasthemeekestmanthateverlived…[Num.12:3]Thewordisalsotranslated,“humble,needy,andpoor.”So,ifMoseswrotethat,Idoubthewasbragging,andIbethewroteitafterhewasdethronedasaprinceofEgypt.Hewasmeek,andhewasanepicfailure.Irealizepeopledefinefailureindifferentways,butImeanfailurethewaymostfolksmeanfailure:hedidn’tdowhathesetouttodo.…afailure--andnotjust“failure”,but“epicfailure.”See,Idon’tthinkyoucanbeanepicfailureunlessyou’vebeengiventhetoolstobeanepicsuccess,andprobablyachievedsomesuccess,orwhatappearstobesuccess…andthatwouldbeMoses.Hewasgivensuchpowerfulgifts,andtools,thatifanyoneshould’vesucceeded,Mosesshould’vesucceeded…andhedidnot.Hesawthegood,andwantedtoachievethegood…andfailed.Hesawfreedom,andwantedtosetthepeoplefree…anddidnot.Hedidnotdowhathesetouttodo.Andifthatdescriptionseemswrongtoyou…letmeremindyouofhisstory:MoseswasbornintoaHebrewfamilyofslaves,inEgypt,wheretheIsraeliteshadbeeninexile,andnowbondage,forfourhundredyears.BecausetheIsraeliteshadgrownsonumerous,Pharaohorderedthatalltheirmaleinfantsbeslaughtered.Moses’motherhidhiminabasketinthereedsalongtheNile,wherehewasfoundbyPharaoh’sdaughter…whogavehimhisname.Itmeans“drawnoutofwater”—kindoflikewhenapersonisbaptized.

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Well,Moses’bigsisterseesallofthis,andsuggeststoPharaoh’sdaughterthatoneoftheHebrewwomenmightnursethebaby.Andso,MosesisraisedinPharaoh’shouseasaPrince,andyetnursedandraisedbyaslave—hismother,whomust’verevealedtohimhistrueidentity.He’sanIsraelite,raisedasanEgyptianprince—that’samiracle.ImeanifanyoneisdestinedtosetGod’speoplefree,it’sMoses,right?Oneday,asayoungman—orreallyamiddle-agedman—MosesseesanEgyptianbeatinganIsraelite,andinanapparentfitofanger,MosesstrikesdowntheEgyptian.ButtheIsraelitesdon’ttrustMoses,andPharaohistoldwhathappened.Andso,Mosesfleestothewilderness,tosavehislife.YoumayrememberthatSorenKierkegaardtalkedaboutthethreespheres,orstages,ofexistence:

· Thefirsthecalledthe“aestheticsphere”—that’swhenapersonisruledbytheirpassions.Movedbyhispassions,MosestriestosaveIsraelandfailed.

· Thesecondsphereiscalledthe“ethicalsphere”—that’swhenapersonisruledbytheirconscience,thatistheir“knowledgeofGoodandevil,”theLaw.

Wellforthenext40yearsMosesherdssheepinthewildernessforhisBedouinfatherin-law,marriedtohisBedouinbride,whomhemetatawellinthedesert.Heherdssheep—inthemiddleofnowhere—untilhemeetsabush….TheAngelofYahweh,andWordofGod,appearstohiminafire,inabushonamountain….AndGodsays“Moses”(Godknowshisname).“Moses,I’veseentheafflictionofmypeople…andI’vecomedowntosavethemandbringthemintoapromisedland… AndnowI’msendingyoutobringthemoutofbondageandintothisland.”iIfMoseshadaprayer,Ithinkitwouldbe“Whatthehell?”

· “We’vebeenslaves400years…andnowyoushowupinabushinthedesert.”· “Iwasthe40year-oldprinceofEgypt,inmyprime,andIgaveitashot…· “Icould’veusedalittlehelpbytheway…”· “Iwasthefrickin’PrinceofEgyptinmyprime,butnowI’man80-yearoldfugitiveshepherd

withaspeechimpedimentresignedtofailure…ANDNOWyousendmetosetyourpeoplefree…Whatthehell?”

NowMosesdoesn’tsaythat,buthedidsaysomethingsimilar.AndGodsays,“Moses,I’llbewithyou…”And,“Moses,checkoutwhatIcandowiththatstickinyourhand—thatstaff.”And,“Moses,we’llgetyourbrothertohelp.”So,MosesheadstoEgypt.(Ontheway—bytheway—Godtriestokillhim,untilMoses’wifecircumcisestheirson…iiWenowknowthatcircumcisionissignoftheCovenantofGrace,whichcontainsthecovenantoflaw,butMosesdidn’tknowthatatthetime.Hemust’veprayedormuttered,“Whattheheck?Youcallmeandthentrytokillme?)OnceinEgypt,MosesthreatensPharaohwiththetenplagues.

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Theplaguesareutterlyspectacularandmostofthem,maybeallofthemhappenthroughMoses’staffthathehadonthemountain—blood,frogs,gnats,flies,sickness,boils,hail,locusts,anddarkness.EachtimePharaohdoesn’tletthepeoplego,foreachtimeGodhardensPharaoh’sheart,justashetoldMosesthathewould.Mosesmust’veatleastthought:

· “WhattheHeck?”· “Why’dyousendme?”· “Whythehardhearts?”· “Whythesefreakyplagues…andwhythislastplague?”

Thelastplagueisthedeathofthefirstborn.Ofcourse,Israelissavedbythebloodofthelamb…ThePassoverlamb….Andso,theAngelofDeathpassesovertheIsraelitesbutvisitstheEgyptians.TheIsraelitesescapewiththerichesofEgypt,ledbyapillaroffireandsmoke…apillarthatleadsthemtotheedgeoftheRedSea,wherethey’retrapped,becausePharaohhadchangedhismind…Withthatamazingstaff,MosespartstheRedSea.TheIsraelitespassthrough,andaredrawnoutofthesea,likeMoseswasdrawnoutoftheriver—they’rebaptized.Oncethrough,thesearushesbackinontheEgyptiansandkillsthemall.SomesaythatMoses’firstattempttofreesomeIsraelitesfailed,becauseMosesstruckdownanEgyptian…butGodstruckdownafewEgyptianstoo,didn’the?Cometothinkofitdoesn’tGodkilleveryone—orifnottechnically“killthem,”doesHenotarrangeforeveryone’sdeath?PeoplegetsostressedthatGodmightsmitesomeone.ItseemstomethatGodsmiteseveryone…orarrangesforalltobesmittenbysomethingorsomeone.Well,I’mnotsayingthatMosesdidn’tfailforstrikingdowntheEgyptian…I’mjustsayingthatitmightnothavebeenforsimplystrikingdowntheEgyptianthatMosesfailed.Wellanyway,tenamazingplagues,apillaroffireandsmoke,aseathatsplitsintwo…andsurelyMoses,mustbethinking:“Wow…butwhydidGodneedme?WhattheHeck?”“WhateverthecaseI’mgladit’sover.”Yousee,MosesisnowheadingbacktowardMidian,wherehehadherdedsheep,andhemusthaveknownthatit’snomorethanahop,skip,andajumptoIsrael—justlookatamap…itshouldn’thavetakenmorethanacoupleweeks.Butthey’retakingastrangeroute,andsoonpeoplestarttocomplain.Goddoessomecoolmiracles,includingbreadthatrainsdownfromheaven….Butsoontheyrunoutofwater,andbegintocomplain,andsoMosescomplainstoGodthatthey’recomplainingtohim.

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SoinExodus17:6Godsays:“Take…thestaff,andgo.Behold,IwillstandbeforeyouthereontherockatHoreb,andyoushallstriketherock…”InHebrew,thewordtranslated“strike,”isthesamewordthat’susedtodescribewhatMosesdidtotheEgyptian.It’smorecommonlytranslated“smite,slay,killslaughter,orevenscourge.”So,Godsays,“Moses,youshall[smite]therock,andwatershallcomeoutofitandthepeoplewilldrink.”Mosesslaughterstherock,andeveryonedrinks.Mosesthengoesuponthemountain,andGodgivesMosesthelaw.iiiCharltonHestonMosessays,“Godsetsbeforeyou,lifeandgoodanddeathandevil.”He’squotingDeuteronomy30:15.Youseethelawis“theknowledgeofGoodandEvil.”ButthenCharltonHestonMosessayssomethingthat’snotintheBible:“Thosewhowillnotlivebythelaw,willdiebythelaw.”It’struethatwewilldiebythelaw….(“Thedayyoueatofityouwilldie,”saysGod…andwe’vealreadyeaten.)It’struethatwewilldiebythelaw.Butit’salie—infacttheverylieofthesnake—tosuggestthattakingthelaw,the“knowledgeofGoodandEvil,”willmakeuslive.Wellasyouknow,(becauseyousawthemovie),Mosesgetsthelaw,Israelhasalreadybrokenthelaw,andthen,Mosesbreaksthestonelaw.ThenabunchoffolksgetsuckeddownintoSheol…(alsotranslated“Hell.”)WhattheHell?ThosethatsurvivesoonmakeitrighttotheedgeofthePromisedLand…(aplacenamedKadesh,whichmeans“holy.”)Theysend12spiesintotheland,butallbuttwoaretooterrifiedtoenter.So,Godsentencesthemtowanderinthewildernessforfortyyears,untileveryadultinthatgenerationisdead,exceptJoshuaandCaleb.--“JoshuaandCaleb,”whosenamesshouldbetranslated,“Jesusanddog”.“Joshua”and“Jesus”arethesamename,intwodifferentlanguages,and“Caleb”means“dog”).Wellafterfortyyearsofwanderinganddying,thenextgenerationcomesbacktoKadesh,andthenewgenerationstartscomplainingaboutwater.InNumbers20:8,GodtellsMosestotakethestaffandspeakto“theRock.”Nowthisiswild,butthisrock,appearstobenoordinaryrock.Thisisthefourthtimetheterm“therock”appearsintheBible:

· MosesstrikestheRock.· MosesstandsontheRock.· MoseshidesinthecleftoftheRockfromthegloryofGod.· AndnowMosesistoldtospeaktotheRock.

Thisseemsfancifultous,butinJesus’day,folksbelievedthatthisRockfollowedtheIsraelitesontheirjourneythroughoutthewilderness,likeamobilefountainoffreshwater,likeaspringoflivingwater…that’swhattheybelieved.

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Accordingto1stCorinthians10:4,that’swhatSt.Paulbelieved—hecalledit“thespiritualrockthatfollowedthem.”WellGodsays,“Moses,takethestaff…andtelltheRock,beforetheireyes,toyieldit’swater.”ivSo,Mosesgatherseveryoneandsays,“Listenyourebels--”See:Themosthumblemanonthefaceoftheearth,islosinghiscoolandblaminghisbrothers,eventhougheverythingisgrace.…Justalittleego,andweresentGodandourneighbors…“Listenyourebels,shallwe(Aaron&I)bringwaterforyououtofthisrock?”vSee:Godsaid,“theRockwillgive,”andMosessaid,“Iwilltake.Iwillgetwaterfromtherockandgiveittoyousinners.”AndthenMosesstruck,smote,slaughteredorscourgedtheRocktwice.Heusedthatstaff—thepowerGodhadgivenhim—tobasicallycrucifythisRock--andthewaterstillcameoutoftheRock…likeariver….AnditwasthenthatGodsaid,“Moses…youwillnotbringthisassemblyintothelandthatIhavegiventhem.”viGodtellsMosesthathewilldiebecausehebrokefaithatthewatersof“Meribah-Kadesh,”translated“contendandholy”.viiItmeanssomethinglike“theplaceyoucontendedwithGodandheshowedhimselfholy.”ItremindsmeofMt.Calvary,wherewecontendedwithGod,heshowedhimselfholy,andthen,bledariverofeternallife—thewateroflife.1Corinthians10:4·“…theydrankfromthespiritualRockthatfollowedthem,andtheRockwasChrist.”Well,thenextyear,GodtellsMoses(120yearsold)toclimbmountNebo,justeastoftheJordanriver,sohecanlookacrossandseethepromisedland…anddie…andbe“gatheredtohispeople”…inSheol.Deut.34:4·“andtheLordsaidtohim,‘thisistheland…Ihavecausedyoutoseeitwithyoureyes,butyoudonotpassover.’So,Moses,theservantoftheLorddiedthereinthelandofMoab.”viii

Onthatmountain.That’sgottobeoneofthesaddestversesinalloftheBible.Andthat’swhyIusedtheterm“epicfailure.”WellifMoses,theManofGod,humblestmanonthefaceoftheearth,stillhadalittlepride,suchthathelosthistemper,struckarock,andstillturnsouttobeanepicfailure…maybeI’manepicfailuretoo.IfMoses,theServantofGod,withthemostawesomesuper-powersinjusthisshepherd’sstick,couldn’tsetthepeoplefree…maybeIcan’tsetmefree.PropheticallyI’vebeencalledtofreepeopleonatleasttwooccasions.I’vehadmyducksinorder,seenmiracles,andfeltsurethatthiswasthemomentwhenthegospelwouldbreakthrough…Andyetatthatverymoment,I’veseeneverythingmiraculouslyfallapart.

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Andthenfoundmyselfleadingagroupofpeoplethroughthewilderness,whowouldliketoknowwherewe’regoingandwhat’stheplan,andIdon’tknow.MaybeI’manepicfailure…maybewe’reallepicfailures.Imeanwefindourselvesimprisonedinthisworldwithsomuchhopeforfreedom—freedomtoloveandbeloved.So,wegotoschooltogainknowledgesowecanbefreetodothegoodandbuildalife…andthenwewatcheverythingslowlydie.Wemakecovenantsandevengetmarriedtoensureloveandproducelife…andthenwewatcheveryonedie.It’sthesamestoryforallthechildrenofAdam:Youmayhaveonlyonebadfriendoryoumayhavealonghappymarriage,butyouwilltastetheGood,andthenitwillalldie.Youmaydoalittlegood,likefeedyourcatoryoumaydowhatsomethinkisamuchgreatergood,likebuildacity…butyouwillstilltastethegoodandwatchitdie—theworkofyourhands,willturntodust.Youknowitwasn’tjustMosesthatdidn’tenter;itwasalsoallthoseIsraelites.AndeventhechildrenoftheIsraelitesthatdidenter,didn’toccupy,andwereexiledatleasttwice,andwereneveractuallyathome.Soanyway,IfMosessaidaprayer,whatwoulditbe?

Psalm90APrayerofMoses,TheManofGod.1 Lord,youhavebeenourdwellingplace—ourhome—

inallgenerations.Nowthat’sarathersurprisingstatementfromsomeonewhospenthisentirelifetryingtogethimself,andhispeople,toadwellingplace.IftheLordishisdwellingplace…thatmeansthedwellingplacewastravellingwithhim;thePromisedLandwaswithhim….

2 Beforethemountainswerebroughtforth,oreveryouhadformedtheearthandtheworld,fromeverlastingtoeverlastingyouareGod.

3 Youreturnmantodustandsay,“Return,Ochildrenofman[Adam]!”

4 Forathousandyearsinyoursightarebutasyesterdaywhenitispast,orasawatchinthenight.

Thatmeansyourentirelifeisjustaday…Ithinkthisentireeonisjustaday,thesixthdayontheedgeofaneternal7th.

5 Yousweepthemawayaswithaflood;theyarelikeadream…

WhenwepreachedthroughtheRevelation,wenoticedthatourlifeinthisworldisoftenreferredtoasadream,fromwhichwearetowakeup.

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It’sabaddreaminducedbyasnakeinagarden,whohasconvincedusthatwemustcreate,save,andredeemourselves…Weallassumethatwecreateourselves,butwecanonlycreatefalseselves,likeabaddream.

5 Yousweepthemawayaswithaflood;theyarelikeadream,likegrassthatisrenewedinthemorning:

6 inthemorningitflourishesandisrenewed;intheeveningitfadesandwithers.

7 Forwearebroughttoanendbyyouranger;

InScriptureitbecomesabundantlyclearthatGodpredestineshisanger.Inotherwords,hisangerisnotareactiontoourdecisions.

Hisangerisameansusedtocreateourdecisions.Hisangerisafunctionofhislove,forHeisLove.

Wearebroughttoanend—Jesusistheend—byyouranger.Wearebroughttoanend—broughttoJesus—byyouranger.Byyourwrathwearedismayed.

8 Youhavesetouriniquitiesbeforeyou,oursecretsinsinthelightofyourpresence[literally:yourface].

9 Forallourdayspassawayunderyourwrath;(whichmustalsobe“hisface”);webringouryearstoanendlikeasigh.

Whatisasigh?To“sigh”istoliterally,surrenderyourspirit,yourbreath,yourneshawmah.Jesuswasthefirstmantowillinglysurrenderhisbreath,hisSpirit,theLife,toGod…HediditonatreeinthegardenonMt.Calvary.AndwhyisGodmadatthechildrenofAdam?Well,wealltakeLifeandthinkwemakelife…wetakeGoodandthinkwemakegood—thatwasthesininthegarden.Webreathein,andholdthebreath,asifitwereourown—so,evenaswelive,we’vealreadydied…tolive,youmustconstantlyloseyourbreathandfindit.

10 Theyearsofourlifeareseventy, orevenbyreasonofstrengtheighty; yettheirspanisbuttoilandtrouble; theyaresoongone,andweflyaway,flyaway11 Whoconsidersthepowerofyouranger, andyourwrathaccordingtothefearofyou?12 Soteachustonumberourdays thatwemaygetaheartofwisdom.

WhenwepreachedthroughEcclesiastes,wediscoveredthatJesusisWisdom.Paultellsus“Heisourwisdom,righteousness,sanctificationandredemption.”ix

12 Soteachustonumberourdays thatwemaygetaheartofwisdom.13 Return,OLord!Howlong? Havepityonyourservants!

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14 Satisfyusinthemorningwithyoursteadfastlove, thatwemayrejoiceandbegladallourdays.

WhatmorningisMosestalkingabout?…Maybethemorningoftheendless7thday,thatisGod’spresenceandourdwellingplace.xAndby“allourdays,”Mosesmustmeanallthesedaysthatpassunderhiswrath …asifhethoughtitwaspossibletodwellinthepromisedland,evenaswestilljourneytothepromisedland. …asif,evennow,wecouldhideinthecleftoftheRock.

15 Makeusgladforasmanydaysasyouhaveafflictedus,

MosestalksasifGodforesawandevenplannedhisepicfailure!And,youknow,itseemsthatMosesdidn’tevencomplainthedayhedied.Readtheaccount—it’salmostasifhethinkseverythingisgoingaccordingtoplan.Hedidn’tpray“Whatthehell?”HejustsurrenderedtotheKingofHeaven.

15 Makeusgladforasmanydaysasyouhaveafflictedus, andforasmanyyearsaswehaveseenevil.16 Letyourworkbeshowntoyourservants, andyourgloriouspowertotheirchildren.17 Letthefavor[no’am:“grace,beauty”xi]oftheLordourGodbeuponus, andestablishtheworkofourhandsuponus; yes,establishtheworkofourhands!xii

Mosesprays,“Establishtheworkofourhands.”TheworkofMoses’hands,wasthesalvationofIsrael,andMoses.Mosesor,atleast,thefalseMosesistheworkofMoses’hands.Areyoutheworkofyourownhands?Moses:theepicfailureprays,“Establishtheworkofourhands.”So,doesGodanswerMoses’prayer?Fastforwardabout1500years,whichinGod’srealityislessthanaday.Andthishappens,(WereadaboutitinthreeoftheGospelsand2ndPeter): Nowabouteightdaysafterthesesayings...[JesustoldthemthattheyweregoingonajourneytoJerusalemandthattheymustlosetheirlifetofindit…“about8daysafterthat,”saysLuke.MarkandMatthewsay,“after6,”whichwouldbe7.See?Ithinkthey’reallreferringtotheendless7thday,thattheJewsreferredtoasthe8thday,EasterSunday,God’spromisedrest.]Nowabouteightdaysafterthesesayings,[Jesus]tookwithhimPeterandJohnandJamesandwentuponthemountaintopray.Andashewaspraying,theappearanceofhisfacewasaltered….Hewastransfigured(metamorphoo–It’swherewegettheword“metamorphosis”.)Hemetamorphosedandhisfaceshonelikethesun…andhisclothingbecamedazzlingwhite.Andbehold,twomenweretalkingwithhim,MosesandElijah,whoappearedinglory[theywereglorioustoo]andspokeofhisdeparture[exodos:exodus],whichhewasabouttoaccomplishatJerusalem…AndPetersaidtoJesus,“Rabbi,itisgoodthatwearehere.Letusmakethreetents[tabernacles],oneforyouandone

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forMosesandoneforElijah.”Forhedidnotknowwhattosay,fortheywereterrified…Hewasstillspeakingwhen,behold,abrightcloudovershadowedthem,andavoicefromthecloudsaid,“ThisismybelovedSon,withwhomIamwellpleased;listentohim.”xiiiUnderstandwhat’shappening?MosesisstandingonamountainspeakingtotheRock;He’sspeakingtoJoshua,yeshua,thatis,Jesus;He’sspeakingtotheAngelofYahweh,whoappearsintheflame;He’sspeakingtotheBurningBushontheMountainofGod;He’sspeakingtotheGloryofGodandHesharestheGloryofGod.HeisappearinginGlory—somuchGlory,thatPeter,terrifiedandunabletostand,offerstobuildhimatabernacle,thatisatemple.MosesnotonlyreflectstheGlory,ashedidintheOldTestamentafterhe’dmetwithGodintheTabernacle…MosesnowradiatestheGlory,forheistheTabernacle,theEternalDwellingPlaceoftheLivingGod.Moseshasbeenmetamorphosedandbecome“likeChrist.”xivHenowstandsinthe8thday,chattingwithYeshuaabouthisjourney— Hisjourneythroughtime,andhisexodusfromtimeintoeternity,attheendofthe6thdayofcreation,6thdayoftheweekand6thhouroftheday.Andnowifyoudidn’tquitegetallofthat,justgetthis:Moses,theepicfailure,isstandingontheMountainwithGodinthePromisedLand.So,didGodestablishtheworkofMoses’hands?YouknowmostAmericanChristianshavebeentaughtthatMoses,andallIsrael,whofailedtoenterGod’sRest3500yearsago,arenowsufferingendlessconscioustormentinHell.ButScriptureisclearthatMoseswasseenwithJesus,inthePromisedLand,nolongeremptyofsubstance,butfulloftheGloryofGod.AndScriptureisclear,thatGodwillraisethe“drybones”of“thewholehouseofIsrael”andbringthemallintotheLand.xvMatthewevenstatesthatwhenJesusdied,thetombswereopened,andsaintsenteredthecity.xviPaulmakesitabundantlyclearinRomans“InthiswayallIsraelwillbesaved…”ButnotonlyallIsrael,butallhumanitythatisgraftedintoIsrael,fulfillingGod’spromisetoAbrahamthatthroughhisseedallthepeoplesoftheearthwouldbeblessed.xviiSo,didGodestablishtheworkofMoses’hands?Yes,Yes,Yes!!!HELL,YES.HeestablishedtheworkofMoses’hands,andheestablishedMoses;forMosesisnotmerelytheworkofhisownhands.HeisGod’shandiwork.xviiiMoses:TheEpicFailure,isGod’sUnmitigatedSuccess.AndYou:TheEpicFailurearealsoGod’sUnmitigatedandEternalSuccess.Andonceyoubegintoseethat,itwillentirelychangethewayyoutravel.Youwillknowthatyouarecreated,savedandredeemedbyGracethroughfaith…andfindthatthePromisedLandistravellingwithyou.Indeed,theSanctuaryoftheLivingGodisinthetempleofyourheart.YouwillenterGod’srest,foryouwilldiscoverthatGod’sResthasenteredyou.

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SorenKierkegaardcalledthis“thethirdsphere,”orstage,ofexistence:Inthefirstyoutrytosaveyourselfwithyourpassions…thatis,youseethatthefruitis“goodtoeatandadelighttotheeyes,”soyoutakeit,eatit,andeverythingdies.Inthesecondstageyoutrytosaveyourselfwithgoodworks…thatis,youseethatthefruitisgood“tomakeonewise,”soyoutakeitandapplyitlikefigleaves;youlivebythelaw…andeverythingdies.xixInthethirdsphereyouknowthatyouaresavedbygracethroughfaith…thatis,youknowthatthefruitonthetreeisJesus,andheisyourbridegroom,andhegiveshimselftoyou,foryouarehisdwellingplace,hisbride,pregnantwithhislife—thefruitofhisSpirit,HisLifeinyou.YouenterGod’srest,becauseGod’sresthasenteredyou.We’lltalkaboutthatmorenextweekwhenwereadPsalm95.Butfornow,justtakeashotatbelievingtheGospel:Ourepicfailurehasbecome,andisnowrevealedtobe,God’sEternalSuccess.“Wheresinincreased,Graceaboundedallthemore.”xxSo,ifyoufeellikeafailure,perhapseverythingisgoingaccordingtoplan.ForourepicfailureistherevelationofGod’sunmitigatedandeternalsuccess.YouareGod’sunmitigatedandeternalsuccess.So,whythejourney?Whythefailure?Whyeventrynottofail?Well,youcan’tfailunlessyoutry…tonotfail.Youwon’tknowGod’sunmitigatedandeternalsuccess,ifyoudon’tknowyourownfailure.Ifyoufailtofail,you’rejuststuckhere,aloneinyouremptyillusions.So,perhaps,Godhasarrangedthingssothatyouwillseethegood,trytoconsumethegood,andtrytomakeyourselfgood…andfail.So,thatyouwillknow,youcan’tmakeyourselfgood,fortheGoodhasmadeyouyourself…yourtrueself.So,thatyouwillknow,youcan’tjustifyyourself,foryouhavealwaysbeenjustified.So,thatyouwillknow,youcan’tsaveyourself,forGodisthesaviorofall.So,thatyouwillknow,youcannotcreateyourself,youhavebeencreated,byGodwiththeWordofGodandsoradiatetheGloryofGod.Tosayitanotherway:Youcannotbeartheweightofyourownglory,whichisGod’sGloryinyou,unlessyouknowthattheGloryisanabsolutegift.MosescannotstandwithJesusonthemountaininthePromisedLand,ifMosesisnotentirelyhumbleandutterlylackinginhumanego.Inotherwords,youcannotlove,untilyouseethatyou’vebeenloved,andyoudidnotmakethatlove;Lovemadeyou.GodisLove.In2ndCorinthians3through4,PaultalksaboutMoses,us,andglory,thenwrites,“theseslightmomentaryafflictions—humiliations—prepareusforaneternalweightofglorybeyondallcompare.”

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Wecannotbeartheweightofourownglory,ifwethinkthatgloryisinanywaydependentonus.Andtothinkthatitis,isevil.ThejourneyisdesignedthatwewouldcometoknowtheevilandforeverchoosetheGood,fortheGoodhaschosenyoufornomeritofyourown.YouareentirelyGod’ssuccess.Youarenotyourfailure.YouareGod’sunmitigatedandeternalsuccess…inwhomheiswellpleased.Whenweknowthat,becausewe’vebeenknownbythat,wearetransformed—metamorpoo—metamorphosed.Everylittlechildfalls,thedaythattheybecomeawareoftheirownbeautyandsotrytobeartheweightofthatbeauty;theytrytojustifytheirownexistence,andstopdancing,becausetheyknowtheirFatheriswatching.We’resaved,whenweseethatwearenotthesourceofourownglory;wecannotbeartheweightofthatGlory,wecanonlybethatGlory.It’sthenthatwedancewithfreedomandjoybeforethefaceofourFather—metamorphosed.

ThelasttimeIspokewithmyMomwasaWednesdayabout8weeksago…Wespokeonthephone,andshekeptsaying,“PeterIdon’tknowwhattodo,Idon’tknowwhattodo,Idon’tknowwhattodo.”Overandover,ScripturetellsusthatGoddoeseverythingthat’sanything…Isaiah26:12OLord…youhaveindeeddoneforusallourworks.Evenifourworksare“nothing,”perhapsGodmakesthemsomething.Hefillthemwithmeaning—HisWordisthemeaning.Heestablishestheworkofourhands…“GoodworkswhichGodpreparedbeforehandthatwewouldwalkinthem.”xxi“Idon’tknowwhattodo.Idon’tknowwhattodo.Idon’tknowwhattodo…”Finally,Isaid—fullyknowingwhatIwassaying—Isaid,“Mom,youdon’thavetodoanything.”Andthenweprayed.Twodayslater,aftershespenttheafternoonwithmysister…thenursescameintoturnheraroundat10:30intheevening.Astheydid,shelookedup,andsaid,“I’mabutterfly,andI’mgoingtoflyaway.”Andthenshesighed…andflewaway….

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Thatmeanssomuchtome,becauseIknowthatmymomsooftenwantedtobe,whatshecouldn’tseemtomakeherselfbe….InthewordsofPaul,shecouldn’tseem“todo,whatshewantedtodo…”xxiiButnowsheiswhatshealwayswantedtobe…Andshedoesexactlywhatshewantstodo…she’sfree.Andyet,eveninthiscaterpillarofaworld,whenmyMombelievedthatshewasloved—shewouldjustradiatelove.Whenshebelievedthattherewasnothingforhertodo,shewoulddo,whatwasabsolutelyglorious…andfree.Eveninthiscaterpillarofaworld,whenwebelievetheGospel,ourepicfailureisalreadyrevealedtobeGod’sunmitigatedandeternalsuccess.So,ChildrenofIsrael,areyouthirsty…forfreedom?There’stheRock.Ithinkwealreadysmoteit…Let’sspeaktoit.Doyoufeellikeafailure?Well,tellhim…Thisishowyouwouldsayitintheologicallanguage:Say,“Lord,Ican’tjustifyme…Pleasebemyjustification…Establishtheworkofourhands.”

CommunionAndso,hebrokethebreadsaying,Takeandeatthisinmybodybrokenforyou.Andhetookthecupsaying,Thisisthecovenantinmyblood.Drinkofit,allofyou.

BenedictionDoyouloveyourMom,yourDad?Or,ifyouwereorphanedorabused,thepersonthattookcareofyouwhenyouweretwo?Evenifit’scomplicatedandmixed,doyoulovethem?Doyouknowwhyyoulovethem?Becausetheylovedyouwhenyouwereanepicfailure.Everytwo-yearoldisanepicfailure…Andyet,theyareworthyourentireworldandyouwouldgladlydieforthem.Doyouknowthemostdangerousthingforthem?It’sthinkingthatthey’regrownup.Forthentheystoptolearn.Andso,youmaygetangryatthem—evenif,yougointhenextroomandlaugh.

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Yougetangrycauseyoudon’twantthemtobestuck.Ithinkmaybeourbiggestproblemisthatwethinkwe’realreadygrownup.Paulwrites,“Betransformed(metamorphoo)bytherenewingofyourmind.1John3:1·BeholdwhatmannerofLovetheFatherhasgivenuntous,thatweshouldbecalledthelittlechildrenofGod…andthat’snotjustwhatwe’recalled,that’swhowereallyare…whatweshallbehasnotyetappeared,butweknowthatwewillbelikehim.xxiii1John3:2“WeareGod’schildrennow,andwhatwewillbehasnotyetappeared….See,whatabilitydoyouhavetojudgeyourselfafailureorasuccess?Youdon’tevenknowwhoyouare….“WeareGod’schildrennow,andwhatwewillbehasnotyetappeared,butweknowthatwhenheappearswewillbelikehim,forwewillseehimasheis.”Yousee?YouwillstandontheMountainwithMoses,Elijah,andJesus.SoBelievetheGospelanditwillentirelychangethewayyoutravel.

Endnotes iExodus3,myparaphrase.iiExodus4:24-26(TheBibleisAWESOME!)iiiItonlymakessensethatMosesslaughterstheRockthatbleedslivingwater,theRockthatwenowknowisChrist,andthenGodgiveshimthelawwrittenonstone.HeslaughtersthelivingGood,andgetsthedeaddescriptionofGood,writtenonastone…muchlikethehumanheart.ivNumbers20:8vNumbers20:10viNumbers20:12viiNumbers27:14,Deut.32:15viiiMytranslation,basedontheHebrewandYLTix1Corinthians1:30RSVxRememberthattheinnerSanctuaryofthetabernacleandtemplewasthepresenceofthecomingage,theeternal7thday(thatcomesattheendofthe6thDay,agoodFriday),andispicturedbyan8thDay(thatinHebrewthoughtwasaneternal7thDayandinChristianthoughtisEasterSunday,the8thand1st,thebeginningandtheend,thepresenceoftheEternal)xiThisissuchafascinatingword.ThedefinitionfromStrong’sConcordanceisasfollows.PayattentiontothelastentryandrememberthattheLordisourhusband.“no’am…Sevenoccurrences;[AuthorizedVersion(KJV)]translatesas“beauty”fourtimes,“pleasant”twice,and“pleasantness”once.1kindness,pleasantness,delightfulness,beauty,favour.1adelightfulness.1bsymbolicnameofoneoftwostaves.1cpleasantness(ofgenitals).”

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Perhaps,GodestablishestheworkofourhandsasthehusbandestablishesthelaborofhisBride’swomb.InotherwordseverygooddeedisthefruitoftheSpirit.xiiIsaiah26:12OLord,youwillordainpeaceforus,foryouhaveindeeddoneforusallourworks.xiiiThisisacombinationofLuke9:28-35,Mark9:2-7,andMatthew17:1-5(allESV)xiv1John3:2“Beloved,weareGod’schildrennow,andwhatwewillbehasnotyetappeared;butweknowthatwhenheappearsweshallbelikehim,becauseweshallseehimasheis.”xvEzekiel37:11xviMatthew27:52xviiRomans11,Genesis12:3xviiiEphesians2:10xixGenesis3:6xxRomans5:20xxiEphesians2:10xxiiRomans7:15