You Can't Unbreak an Arm/ Numbers 27-30
You Can't Un-break an Arm
Every time I read this section of scripture it makes me sad for Moses. I feel like he put up with so much while leading the Israelites, and always went to bat for other people when they did things that upset God. Every time the Israelites would complain or whine, God would get angry and want to start over, but Moses would ask for mercy. God would grant mercy, with consequences, and they would do it all again.Now; as they finally end the 40 year period of wandering; the disobedient generation having passed away, the kids are ready to go in and conquer the land. Aaron and Miriam, Moses sister and brother have both already passed away, and Moses is the only one left of the old regime from Egypt some 40 years ago.
God helps Moses select the next leader and the torch is passed on to Joshua to take the people into the promised land. Moses goes over the laws again for good measure over the next 3 chapters, and then takes his final trek up to Mt Nebo to view the promised land. He can just see Jericho on the other side of the River Jordan. What a life this humble man of God has led.
He thinks about the time that God told him to speak to the rock and bring water gushing out for the
thirsty Israelites to drink. He remembers allowing his anger to get the best of him and yelling "you want water, I'll give you water". He hit the rock instead of speaking to it, and out came the water. It felt good at the time, but now it just made him tired and sad. The consequences of that sin of pride and anger had cost him entrance into the land.
I can't pretend to understand the mind of God, and Moses takes it really well, so I can only conclude that as God's friend he knew God well enough to feel the justice mixed with the love and take the consequences his was given with a measure of humility.
I have some consequences in my own life from past sins, in the form of debt, weight, broken relationships or reputations, that I would love to have magically vanish, but just like a broken arm, some consequences last longer than others; some leave scars and others change things in your life forever.
God loved Moses, he took him up to mountain to see the land and then the Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 34 that Moses died and God buried him on the mountain.
Deuteronomy 34:
And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[b] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
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