Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Mar 22 2019 - Numbers 27:12-23 – Joshua appointed as Moses' successor

Today we come to the last of our readings in the Book of Numbers and to the end of Moses' leadership of the Israelites.

You will remember that Moses had lost his temper with the Israelites who were complaining over a lack of water. Instead of speaking to a rock as God had commanded, he had struck it twice with the staff of God to obtain the water God promised to provide. The disobedience of the Israelites had resulted in them being unable to enter the Promised Land; all the adults who had been rescued from Egypt – with two exceptions – ended up dying in the desert. Because of Moses' disobedience, he also will die without entering the Promised Land, though he is permitted to look at the land from a nearby mountaintop.

There are many instances of notable servants of God who were honoured and commended by God but who, towards the end of their lives, fell away tragically. Remember Noah, Moses, David and Solomon. They stand as salutary lessons to us. They remind us of the need to go on running the race set before us and to finish well and finish strong.

It must have been a great disappointment to Moses on the borders of the Promised Land to be reminded of his rebellion and its cost. He was aware that, at least at that moment in the desert, he had failed to lead the people of God as he should. He had become like them in his anger with the Lord rather than setting them an example of unfailing obedience. So, as he faces his death, his great concern is that another leader might be found for the people of God. He wants someone who will be a faithful shepherd of the Israelites.

God tells Moses that Joshua, son of Nun is the man he has chosen to succeed Moses as leader of the Israelites. Joshua had been the leader of the Israelite army when they had defeated the Amalekites. He had also been Moses' assistant (Exodus 24:13), tutored in the task of leadership by Moses himself. Joshua was also one of the explorers of the Promised Land. He and Caleb were the only explorers who returned urging the Israelites to go in and possess the land; God had promised it to them and he would give it to them. Joshua seems to be the ideal successor to Moses.

But if Moses had failed in some areas of leadership, how could Joshua hope to live up to the task? It will only be by the help and enabling of the Spirit of God.

"Jesus" is the Greek version of the name "Joshua". Joshua, by God's help, did a good job leading the people of God. But we have a far greater Joshua. Jesus possesses the fulness of God's Spirit. He never rebelled against God but was always perfectly obedient to his heavenly Father, finishing the work entrusted to him by the Father and finishing well. In his earthly ministry he had compassion on the crowds because they were like "sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36, cf. Numbers 27:17). He came to seek and to save these lost sheep; he even laid down his life for them.

There is no-one else like Jesus. He alone is able to be a faithful shepherd over all whom the Father has entrusted to his care. He will not permit any of them to be snatched from his hand or to be lost but will bring them each one into the inheritance God has promised them. We shall not simply gaze at it from afar, we will enter it in triumph through Christ who has gone to prepare a place for us.

Father God, we thank you for the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd of the sheep. Left to ourselves we would soon stray away from you. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and, strengthened by your Spirit, to go on following and serving him. Use us to bring many others into the great flock of the people of God.

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Mar 22 2020 - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12 – Words of power

There is power in the message of the gospel; it can transform lives and turn your whole world upside down. Paul knew this; it had happened to him. He had not simply heard about the Lord Jesus, he had come face-to-face with the risen Lord and nothing could ever be the same again. That encounter had transformed his view of the world and it had driven him on in the work of mission.

Paul's experience was unique. Nevertheless, there is another sense in which it was also the experience on these Christians in Thessalonica. The people to whom Paul writes had not simply heard his preaching; their lives had been transformed by the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit. Paul's words had produced deep conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:5) so that those who heard, "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath" (1:9-10). Many in Thessalonica had also been brought face-to-face with the risen Christ and had been "converted," utterly changed.

Paul looks back with thankfulness at the work of God in these people. He remembers their “work produced by faith … labour prompted by love, and … endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:3). They had a faith that worked. Their service of the living and true God was expressed in labours of love towards one another and towards their unbelieving neighbours – the words suggests costly effort or even painful toil on behalf of others. The love of God in Christ that had touched and transformed their lives was now touching the lives of others through them. Nor did they grow tired of serving God in this way or lose enthusiasm when they faced opposition; they carried on with an endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. They longed for the day of his return, knowing that for them it would not be a day of wrath but a day of salvation, a day when the whole of creation would be transformed at his coming. So they laboured now to transform their world through the love and power of the risen Saviour.

The power of the gospel is the power of the living God; it is the power of the risen Christ who, by his Spirit, brings men and women into his kingdom. He transforms rebels into servants of the King. This powerful message had been entrusted to Paul (2:4) and he had sought to be faithful to this trust. Paul had taken this message around the Mediterranean world. He had taken it to Thessalonica, the largest and most important city of Macedonia, the capital of the province. There, this message had been entrusted to the Thessalonians and had rung out from them throughout Macedonia and Achaia (1:8) – the word used suggests perhaps rolling thunder which resounds across the countryside. There was nothing half-hearted or timid about their proclamation of Christ.

This same message has now been entrusted to us. In the face of a world preoccupied by false gods, how will this word work in us, among us and through us to proclaim the reign of Christ and extend the kingdom of the living God?

Lord, as we read your word, may we hear you speaking to us. May your word always be accompanied by the powerful and convicting work of your Spirit, transforming our lives and empowering us in the work of the kingdom. May our lives also be characterised by "work produced by faith, labour prompted by love [and] endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1:3), all for the sake of your "kingdom and glory" (1:12).

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Peter Misselbrook