Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him. (KJV)
It had been forty years since Moses had led the family of Jacob out of Egypt and into the desert. That’s almost half a lifetime. In forty years, the family of Jacob had traveled all around the wilderness. They had endured plagues and poison. They had birthed babies and buried their dead. They walked and worked and wandered until their feet were calloused and their skin was salty with sweat. And now, after all of that, they were right back to where they had been forty years prior. They stood on this side of the River Jordan with their faces towards the Promised Land — the land with grapes and honey and milk and giants.
All the children in Egypt were now parents and had children of their own. The parents were grandparents. And the grandparents were dead and gone. Except for Moses. Moses was the oldest of them all. He’d never plant a garden or dig a well on the other side of the river. No, this was as far as he would ever go. His legs were feeble, his ears dull, his throat tired, his lungs weak. But he had one last adventure in him.
And so one morning, he set off to climb to the top of a nearby mountain and look out over the river, and see the miles and miles of Promised Land. And there it was. Trees and bushes, antelope and cattle, olive orchards and tomato gardens, grape vines and sumac, rivers and tributaries. It was better than he’d remembered. And now, they were back at the river. But this time, they were ready to cross over. It was the finale, the final frontier, the last battle.
No more wandering under the stars. No more living in tents or camping in deserts. This is where they would stay, planted like a seed that would grow into a forest called home. And it was not just their home. It was going to be the city of God. Moses’ family and friends, his nieces and nephews, would become priests and priestesses, kings and judges, heroes and legends here, in this place, just beyond the river.
The longer Moses looked, the further he saw. And God expanded his vision so that as he looked into the distance, he was looking across time as well. He could see now that crossing the river and beating the giants was not the final hurdle at all. It would not bring the end of their suffering. And building the city of God was no sure thing. There would be battles, and failures, fear and doubt, jealousy and anger, pride and disappointment.
All their struggles were only going to continue. And their victories weren’t going to last. Their cities would burn and crumble in pieces. And the family of Jacob would sit down by new rivers and weep.
“No!” Moses cried, “It can’t be!”
What was the point of all their struggle, of all their seeking and wandering, of their snake bites and starvation, their faith and hopes? They had come all this way, suffered so much: death, pain, homelessness, poverty, thirst, sickness, tragedy. And for what?
But maybe there was still hope. Maybe there was still a chance. And so Moses ran down the mountain. It had been a long time since he’d moved this fast, but he felt a new urgency and a new energy entering his bones. He had to warn the people. He’d tell them what he’d seen. And maybe that would be enough to change the future. Maybe they’d succeed in building God’s city after all.
When Moses arrived at the base of the hill, the people had already gathered to hear what he had to say. And between deep breaths, he told them that there were much scarier things than giants awaiting them on the other side of the river. There was work, and peril, and failure. And no matter how hard they tried, no matter how much they wanted it, there was a very real possibility that the family would be defeated and scattered. And everything they had built would be destroyed. They had called this place the Promised Land, yet nothing was guaranteed.
“But,” Moses said, “ we must not give up. Not here at the beginning of everything. God has already given us what we need. The laws, the commandments, they are more than just rules. They are the key to unlock the door of God’s kingdom on earth. Because the Promised Land is not just a place. It is a way of living. And so hold fast to the law of God, and we will yet succeed!”
And so Moses re-taught everyone the law of God. He explained that the law was more than a list of things not to do. It was more than not killing, or lying, or swearing or complaining. It was even more than a list of things to do, like going to church or offering sacrifices or honoring parents or respecting authority. The law could not be written on two stones or a million pieces of paper. It was too big and complex, but it was also plain and simple, like an angel on their shoulders, or a whisper in their ears.
The law was justice, truth, and mercy. But it was more than that. And someday, God would walk beside them, and only then would they begin to understand that it was him the whole time. Because the law radiated from him like light from the sun. And living with God is to have his law beating upon your face. And there is no sunscreen, there is only grace. And you must apply it daily, slather it on, or you will burn up. And you must love God with your whole heart, only then will you be able to stand in his presence and say, “Oh what a truly marvelous day.”
“And so,” Moses said, “it all comes down to this. Can you love God more than anything else? Can you love him with your heart, and mind, and whole soul? Because if not, you won’t survive the other side of the river.”
This was a lot to take in, and for a moment, the people were quiet. They looked behind them at the wilderness, then forward to the Promised Land. And it seemed like they might turn back. But then something amazing happened. All at once, the people stood and cheered. Even knowing they’d likely fail, they were still going to cross the river. They would face giants and their own inadequacies and cling to the law with everything they had. No matter what, they were going to try to build God’s city. They were going to try to live in his light. And that is incredible. Because trying really hard to do something even when you know you will probably fail takes real courage.
And they were able to be so brave because their parents and grandparents had been brave before them. They had packed up their lives, walked out of Egypt, across a sea, and through the desert forty years earlier. They had spent decades walking and trying and failing and preparing to bring their children to this place at this moment. And while they would not cross the river themselves, they had brought their children this far. And they had not brought their children this far for them to stop at the water’s edge.
And so the family of Jacob packed up their campground one last time. They were bound for the Promised Land. They were going to do it. And the grandparents, who were too weak to cross the river, gave their children their coats and walking sticks and packed snacks in baskets for the grandchildren. They kissed their faces and cried and said how proud they were. And then they stood back with Moses by the mountain. They watched as their children and grandchildren walked into the distance. Joshua was leading them. And when they reached the river, it parted, just as it had for Moses. And the people walked into the Promised Land on dry ground.
And the grandparents shouted and waved, “Go on, we’re cheering for you. You’re doing it. You’re doing it. Remember what I taught you about brick making and grape management. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. And when you build your home and start your farm, if you remember, put my picture on the mantle.”
And the children walked on, propelled by the faith and failures of their ancestors. They were across the river now. God’s Promised Land was underfoot. Giants lay before them. But they were the family of Jacob, descended from those who had built an ark, bargained with God, and wrestled with angels. They’d try to make God’s city no matter what. And they’d plant God’s temple right in the middle of it, and invite him to live with them. And they’d stand in the blinding light of his law and his love. And they’d try their very best not to not burn up.
To purchase a hard copy of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, visit ForLittleSaints.com
To access the complete audiobook of The Bible Storybook: The Old Testament, become a Friend of Faith Matters by subscribing at FaithMatters.org/subscribe.
