Deuteronomy 3:23-28 
“‘O Sovereign Lord, you have only begun to show your greatness and the strength of your hand to me, your servant. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great and mighty deeds as you do? Please let me cross the Jordan to see the wonderful land on the other side, the beautiful hill country and the Lebanon mountains.’ 

“But the Lord was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. ‘That’s enough!’ he declared. ‘Speak of it no more. But go up to Pisgah Peak, and look over the land in every direction. Take a good look, but you may not cross the Jordan River. Instead, commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.’” (NLT)

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Moses sounds a bit like Karen Carpenter here. He sings, “We’ve only just begun . . .” God was having none of it. He would not listen to any more prayers on this matter, no more super-sincere apologies, no more begging to stay up just a little later. No more drinks of water. No more bedtime stories.

Moses said, “Pretty please?” 

God said, “Stop talking.”

Negotiations were closed. 

God gave next-level instructions. 
A. Prepare to die. 
B. Prepare Joshua to lead.

For Moses, there was one last mountain to climb, one more vision to behold, one more leader to equip. He was going to die, as he already knew he would. However, he was going to die one step short of the Promise, one step inside the abundance, one step outside of the wilderness.

He could take a good look. He could delight in all that he saw, and he could dream of all that lay ahead for the people for the people he had faithfully led.

He could empower Joshua to go where he would not go, to lead where he would not lead, to conquer where he would not fight. 

Moses was the most humble man alive. He had a deeper, closer walk with God than any man since Adam. Now, he would humbly prepare Joshua for his best next steps. Now, he would obediently step aside so that God could do what he said he would do. This was God’s production, not Moses’. 

Our best leadership may be found not in what we accomplish but in what others accomplish as we hear and obey God for their preparation. 

Helping one or a dozen leaders know and experience God, helping them hear him clearly and obey him wholly, multiplies our effectiveness. When we equip others who, in turn, equip still others, we live exponentially significant lives. 

God’s orders for Moses to get ready to die did not lead to his death that day. Preparing Joshua and readying the people for the next part of the journey took time. That time was neither unlimited nor immediate. This liminal moment, this time between time and timelessness, was filled with meaning and purpose. 

One dream would come to an end, subsumed by a million dreams. One mission would begin and empower a million more. One lifetime marking the end of one age and the beginning of another would end in the land of the dying and begin in the land of the living, the land that is fairer than day. 

Perspective regarding the big picture helps us see our lives in the great sweep of God’s story. We have a beginning and an end, and we also live beyond our lives by what we do and say and by how fully and faithfully we join God in his work in this world. 

How will you shape eternity today? 

How will you trust and obey?

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I will trust God and obey him in the projects and tasks he assigns.

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Our Father, empower us to live bigger lives than the years of our endurance. Empower us to equip, train, and encourage others who will likewise live bigger lives than can be measured in years. Grant us perspective and perseverance. Strengthen us for this and every day as we seek to walk in your way. Amen.