UNFULFILLED DREAMS: NOT A DEFEAT BUT A CORRECTION OF OUR DREAMS

Understanding God’s Firm Refusal (part 2)
As much as possible we want God to say yes to our dreams; sometimes He says NO.
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”

Deut 34:1 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. 7 Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. 8 So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. 9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. NASB

For Moses, there was no dream bigger and more important than entering the Promised Land. Moses was brought up to Mount Nebo. From there, God showed him the Promised Land. Wow! Fantastic! This is it, the land flowing with milk and honey! The dream was about to be converted into a most wonderful, greatly satisfying, and soul-comforting reality. Then God spoke to Moses and Moses heard the words in a dream like state for it was not what was in his heart. God said: “4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there."

What did God say? “Moses, this is the dream of your dreams. Now you’ve seen it. It’s there in front of you. But Moses, I have something to say to you: I have let you see it but I cannot and I will not you cross over. You will die on the other side of the Promised land but not in the Promised Land.

Moses may have been greatly disappointed but God showed him something else. Moses’ dream should not have been the Promised Land but the PRESENCE OF GOD! Moses got so focused on the Promised Land that he forgot that the Presence of God is far greater than the Promised Land. So what happened to Moses?

He died but he died in the presence of God. God Himself, we are told, buried Moses. Have you ever heard of God conducting a funeral service and burying a person? Only in this case, actually. God was present when Moses died and God buried him and took his soul to be with God afterwards.

The Promised Land was a great dream. But, it was nothing compared with the personal presence of the Lord. Sometimes, we act like Moses. We focus on a dream and sometimes God says no. When He does, it is because He wants us to realize that there is something bigger and better than our dream. That is what He wants to give us.

When your dream fades away, it is not a defeat; that means God has something better for you. PRAYER: Lord, I may have defined my own dream and it may not be what you have for me. Help me to overcome disappointments and to wait for You. You know the best for me. In the name of Jesus, amen.