I splurged not long ago and bought some cds of instrumental music that I can play while in my quiet time. I starting playing them this weekend, rather, one of them, and have it playing now. A soothing quiet tone of different instruments, one being the shofar. The call to my Abba, is what I always think of when I hear the shofar, no matter where I am. Turning my thoughts to Him, my soul and my heart at rest. Holy He is. It is always good to just sit in His Holy Presence and surrender myself to Him and just worship..... my own way, between He and I, just worshipping the One who forgives me, and loves me, no matter what I have done, no matter what I will do... I've confessed all... I've been forgiven all... yeah.. He loves me, and you, that much.
I read a question this morning and my mind immediately had an answer, but I wanted to read and dig in to it some before sharing it on here. I'm glad my first thought was correct. The question was raised... Exodus 2:11-22.... Because of his actions, was Moses allowed into heaven?
Let me give you the background of this question before I answer it. Moses was a Hebrew baby who was placed in a basket to be saved from being killed by the current Pharaoh. The sister of the Pharaoh, a princess, found the basket and she knew he was a Hebrew. It wasn't just because of the Hebrew blanket that was probably with him, as is shown in movie 'The Ten Commandments'.... but because he was circumcised. Hadn't really thought about that before, but it is one thing that stood out as I looked in to the background. The princess took this baby to raise as her own, and he was given great education and training in many things. He was favored over the Pharaoh's son in many things, which did not set well with this son. But Moses determined that he should live as a Hebrew, and not as a member of the royal Egyptian family. And so he frequently was out and about among the Hebrews.
But one day, he saw an Egyptian slavemaster beating one of the Hebrew slaves - and Moses intervened and killed him. He thought no one saw him, but he was seen and it was made known to Pharoah, who then sought to kill Moses. Now mind you, This Pharaoh, Thutmose III had een raised with Moses. The murder of a slavemaster by a prominent member of the royal family was not enough to warrant a death sentence, but Pharaoh, wanting to get rid of any other authority that could come up against him (the father's sister's had interfered frequently), and in his jealousy of Moses, had the desire to kill Moses - and it was about removing Moses so that he would not succeed to the throne in place of the current Pharaoh or his son.
So Moses fled through the desert to Midian (decendents of Keturah, who was Abraham's wife after Sarah died), where he met Zipporah, his wife. As you know, Moses eventually was called by God through the burning bush, telling him he was to go back to Egypt and bring the Israelites out of Egypt into the promised land.
So let's go back to the question I was asked. "Because of his actions, was Moses allowed into heaven?"
I will say yes. He committed manslaughter! How could he go to heaven? For one thing, it was justified because he didn't premeditate it, he saw someone being beaten and he intervened. Hence the manslaughter charge versus murder. But... in spite of that.... God used Moses to deliver His people out of Egypt. Moses did more than commit manslaughter.... he disobeyed God. Gasp! Wouldn't that be enough to keep him out of heaven? He even argued with God about delivering the people out of Egypt How dare he! He lost his temper with the Israelites (Exodus 32:19) and he wasn't allowed to enter the promised land because he disobeyed God (Numbers 20:6-12). But Moses died full of grace and favor with God because he got up more times than he fell down. Does that make sense?
We can identify with Moses as a young man when guilty of manslaughter (how many times have we 'killed' someone in our heart or mind?), but we can also identify with his fears and doubts when God called him to deliver His people. But Moses was brave, he was faithful, he was very outspoken, but he was also compassionate and loyal. In spite of all he went through taking the Israelites through the desert for 40 years, Moses kept his eye on the eternal prize. He was a failure, but he was also faithful, and God honored his faithfulness instead of rejecting him for his failures.
Moses was told by God to go to Mount Nebo, in the land of the Moabites, view the land of Canaan which God gave to the Israelites, but because of Moses' disobedience in striking the rock for water instead of speaking to it as God commanded, he could not enter... Moses died on Mount Nebo, and God buried him in a valley in the land of Moab.
When we read of Jesus' transfiguration in Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, and Luke 9:27-36 - who were the two men who were with Jesus as He was transfigured? Elijah..... and Moses.
Does that answer the question of 'because of his actions, was Moses allowed into heaven?'?.... I believe it does. If Moses had gone to hell, he certainly would not be brought up to be with Jesus at His transfiguration.
If you have failed, do not give up. God used Moses, and He wants to use you. Will you say 'yes' to Him, and allow Him to use you? You are as great as Moses was... what is it that God is calling you to that you have been using every excuse to not do? Maybe it's time to say 'yes' to God.
Blessings!
