Every Exit is an Entrance - Part Two

“Every Exit is an Entrance – Part Two”

In today’s text, the children of Israel must grapple with the death of Moses and the incredible change that it causes for them.  The one who led them for forty years in the wilderness is no longer with them.  They stand on the brink of the Promised Land without Moses, their God given leader.  In fact the author of Deuteronomy characterizes Moses in superlative terms.  “There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.  The Lord sent Moses to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders on the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants and his entire land.  And it was through Moses that the Lord demonstrated his mighty power and terrifying acts in the sight of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 31:10-12)  Yet, Moses is now dead and the children of Israel must accept this monumental change.

For forty years, they dwell in tents.  As the pillar of cloud move by day, they pick up their tent pegs and move.  When the pillar of fire settles at night, they drive stakes into the ground and adjust to a new location.  This semi-nomadic way of life has become “normal” for them.  They knew the voice of Moses and had learned to the best of their ability and the fullest extent of their willingness to listen to it.

What would they do now?  As they cross the Jordan and take the Promised Land?  They would face new and previously unknown enemies?  They would fight on unfamiliar terrain.  They had no idea what the land was like.  The uncertainty of these changes led to their wholesale fear.  But, they failed to realize that the physical exit of Moses open the door through which Joshua would enter.

We can relate to their dread.  We hate endings.  We defy transitions, good and bad.  The loss of job creates tremendous fear in us.  The death of a loved one causes us to grieve considerably.  For at least a year, we live in a time warp as we figure out how to move on.  The severing of significant relationships periodically results in anger and bitterness most because it interrupts the flow of life.  Plus, it is a wasted investment.  Then, there are those pleasant times in life when we succeed and actually get what we want.  What do we do then?  How do we live into this new and pleasant change?

Fascinatingly, God transforms our losses, exits, defeats, failures and fears into doors that lead to a nee and glorious chapter in life.  Embedded in every “death” are the seeds of resurrection.

Foe the Israelites, God chooses Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land.  Let’s listen in on the conversation between God and Joshua as the Lord anoints Joshua as the new leader over Israel.  In so doing, the Lord demonstrates that the exiting of Moses from the stage of priestly and prophetic ministry opens the door to Joshua’s assumption of the mantle.