Sabbath: The Resurrection of Moses
Image © Pacific Press
Sabbath Afternoon
Read for This Week’s Study: Numbers 20:1-13, Deuteronomy 31:2, Deuteronomy 34:4, Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Jude 9, 1 Corinthians 15:13-22.
Memory Text: “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9, NKJV).
As we have seen all quarter, Moses is the central mortal in Deuteronomy. His life, his character, his messages pervade the book. Though, yes, Deuteronomy is about God and His love for ‘am yisra’el, “the people of Israel,” God often used Moses to reveal that love and to speak to His people Israel.
Now, as we come to the end of the quarter, the end of our study of Deuteronomy, we come also to the end of Moses’ life, at least his life here.
As Ellen G. White expressed it: “Moses knew that he was to die alone; no earthly friend would be permitted to minister to him in his last hours. There was a mystery and awfulness about the scene before him, from which his heart shrank. The severest trial was his separation from the people of his care and love — the people with whom his interest and his life had so long been united. But he had learned to trust in God, and with unquestioning faith he committed himself and his people to His love and mercy.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 470, 471.
As Moses’ life and ministry revealed much about the character of God, so, too, does his death and resurrection.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 25.
(24)
This week I met up again with someone who I am getting to know. I can see this person is searching for something more in life as reflected by their core 'question' they are wrestling with - "what's the point of all of this?" This person has declared that they are not religious. However, their two deepest values are to benefit others and to respect other's freedom of choice. There is one particular statement they made that I found to be very 'interesting'. They said, "if there is a God, then His book and His fan club don't portray Him very well". Essentially, they believe that if there is a God, He would need to be better than what is typically presented/reflected. This person's question was not a criticism of anyone, but an expression of an unacknowledged hope that there is a truly beneficent God and a sense of what such a God would authentically be like - and how this would actually impact the lives of His 'fan club' as he put it - meaning His followers themselves and how they treated others.
Coming from someone who doesn't consider themselves 'Christian', yet who shares the core values of Christianity (but doesn't yet know that), I believe the Holy Spirit is at work in this person's life. So I do not find myself dismissing their observations as 'ignorant'.
What if this person is right? What if the God that has been typically or popularly portrayed by Christianity at large - and even by Adventism dare I suggest lest we dismiss this matter as something that is only relevant to other 'denominational groups' - is enough of a misportrayal of who God really is and what His ways really are that it leads people to reject such a 'God'? I have noticed that Ty Gibson has also recently been re-focussing on these questions.
As we study this weeks lesson and the matter of Moses sin and God's response, I wonder if we might benefit from intentionally looking with 'fresh eyes' so to speak. Rather than coming from a space of "yes, I know this story", what if we gently challenge ourselves to ask the Holy Spirit to help us see if perhaps there is something (or some things) that we might perhaps be (unintentionally) overlooking that would otherwise reveal God in a different light - a light that enables God to be seen as a genuine and viable reality to be authentically embraced by those who are genuinely looking for something more than all this world has to offer?
Let's see what we find - for the sake of people like the one I am getting to know...
And if anyone is interested, please join me in upholding this person in prayer before God for the Holy Spirit to keep drawing them.
Phil - Yes, I join you in upholding this person in prayer. Lately, my focus regarding our Salvation has been on the 'Right to Life'. Usually, people talk about the 'right to life' in relation to the unborn, but there is another life to which the born person has a right to - Life everlasting.
I believe that the value of this, our present life here on earth, lays in the fact that we have an opportunity to see beyond this life to another life; a life which is offered only to those who were born into this earthly life. Without experiencing this earthly life first, one cannot have everlasting life. Abortion, in this context, is really the denial of the right to both lives.
It is my prayer that the person you speak with can perceive that we have been offered the priviledge to live two lives; one not asked for, the other one chosen for its 'reflection of the true value of life; a complete reality'. This reality is the symbiosis of spirit and matter, its result superceeding everything a mere material life can offer.
But this offer only lasts as long as man lives in this body. Therefore, there is no better time to chose than now!
Thanks for your prayers for this person. This is just one person I have mentioned - there are literally dozens of others that I am getting to know too, so prayer support is very, very much appreciated.
If anyone else has spare prayer space, I would really appreciate the upholding of the steady stream of people that God appears to be bringing across my path. - that God's will be done on earth in these people's lives for God is not willing that any should perish. I am sure I am not the only one this is happening to. I believe the spiritual harvest-enhancing 'latter rain' (Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23) is in progress (and has been for some time), so a foundation of prayer is so important for it is not by our might, nor by our power, but by God's Spirit that His salvation is going forward...
Amen, Phil - I consider your helping us to be included in the work you are doing to help people better understand the God of our Faith, His Son Christ Jesus and the work they are doing for mankind. It is vital to help people understand who these deiteis are that people worship, and how Their work includes every living person you come in contact with. God's love is spread through every loving deed!
May God's blessings reach everyone His Love touches through you!
Satan was not allowed to take his life. And the character of Moses was such that he turned to God continually for help.
Moses is perfect example of obedience and disobedience. But in the long run, he continued to trust God. Great example for me, kan't speak for others.
This week’s lesson topic - “The Resurrection of Moses” seems to be quite complex. I find issues related to authority, resurrection, and faith. Reading through this week’s Scripture references, it appears that Jude 9 NKJV brings out the underlying issue of authority, and Cor.15:13-22 provides the context to the over-arching question of faith and resurrection.
I think Moses is a good example to study when understanding/calibrating ones relationship with God. I find it amazing that after all their years of faithful service to God, Moses and Aaron were kept from entering the Promised Land because of ‘unbelieve and disrespecting His authority’:”Because you (Moses and Aaron) did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, … “ - Numbers 20:12NKJV.
Both, Michael and Lucifer laid claim to Moses’s body. I find this interesting as well, since man’s true life is bound to the Spirit of Life, not the body. What was so urgent that both needed to engage in this struggle for the body of Moses? Could not Moses have slept in the grave and wait just like all the other believers do?
The struggle might have been a matter related to authority and purpose; who had the ultimate authority/right to lay claim to Moses’s body and for what purpose. Though both had committed this wrong, Aaron's body was not part of this dispute.
Michael did not speak in his own authority, then, he referred to the LORD’S authority - Jude 5-9NKJV (though this translation does not capitalize the letters 'Lord').
The Scriptures do not give a detailed account of Moses’ death, other than "God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day” - Deut.34:6EXV. I wonder about this also.
We meet Moses again in the company of Elijah speaking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus was still in His human body, readying Himself to endure the transitioning from the earthly life to that of the resurrected Son of God.
Were Moses and Elijah sent to comfort Jesus, to reassure Him that all will go well with His resurrection by showing Him their resurrected form? They talked, though only Luke records this conversation - Luke 9:31.
Peter, James and John heard the voice from the cloud saying: ”This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him (have faith). Their own gospel account does not include this encounter. Only Matt.17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36 record this by heaven orchestrated event.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Romans 5:14 KJV