Monday, February 24, 2014

Mo' Problems
Deuteronomy 3: 21-29


As Moses continues recapping the Israelite's tale, he hits a couple of important events.  

First, he shares his pep talk with Joshua.  He tells him, dude- you've seen how God helped us demolish these two kings?  He's totally going to do the same thing as you enter the lands of all these other kings.  Worry not. All will be well. God will fight for you.

Second, Moses segues into self-pity mode.  He tells them how he tried to butter God up.  Hey, God.  Remember all that awesome stuff You've been showing the world.  About how awesome You are and all that?  It would be really amazing if I could, you know, travel into the promised land and see more of that stuff.  Whadda You say?  Let bygones be bygones?

Moses tells the Israelites- because of YOU God was still a bit peeved with me and said.  Look, enough with this whining.  I'm done talking about it.  No go Mo.  You're staying behind.  Hit a mountaintop- you can see the land- but that's all you're getting.  However, you should make sure Joshua is pumped and ready- he'll be leading the people in.

I am amazed at the amount of character insight into Moses we get here.  He's bitter, and really concerned with how he's perceived by the readers of his epic tale.  If it weren't for these pesky Israelites, me and God would still be buds and I'd have all the milk and honey I could consume.   But instead, I'm destined to sit on a mountain by myself, moping and spying on these people I've devoted my life to leading.

It also makes me realize that all scripture is written with perspective.  While these authors were certainly immersed in the story of God, their writing is interwoven with unique insight, distinct agendas, personal stakes, and narrative holes filled in based on their culture's oral tradition.  While believers tend to be dogmatic over detail, we often tend to not factor these kind of considerations into application.  Rob Bell points out that these books are written by real people- and need to be read that way.