DISAAPOINTMENTS ARE OFTEN INSTRUCTIONAL AND DIRECTIONAL IN NATURE

DISAPPOINTMENTS ARE OFTEN INSTRUCTIONAL IN NATURE
August 26, 2008. Deuteronomy 34:1-8

THE DREAM OF ALL DREAMS:
Every Israelite in Egypt had as his dream, the land flowing with milk and honey for this was God’s promise: Ex 3:8. “ So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. (NIV).

Moses himself had wanted to cross the Jordan to enter the Promised Land but God would not let him. Deut 31:1-3. “1 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' (NIV)

The explanation given why he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land was very clear to Moses: Deut 4:21-22. “21 The LORD was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the LORD your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22 I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land.”

THE ISSUE FOR MOSES:
He wanted to enter the Promised Land but God says: I won’t let you. Moses may have been greatly disappointed but he somehow understood why he had to be refused and why God had to say no him. He was still disappointed but his disappointment did not defeat him. How should we deal with our disappointments? We must have a good understanding of why we have disappointments and what we ought to do as a response.

I- God may sometimes refuse our Prayers and deny us our dreams because HIS JUSTICE requires it. Our disappointment may be the direct result of our stubbornness or of something we have done that is against the will of God.
Deut. 34:4. 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." Num. 20:12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
Something happened in Numbers 20 that led the disqualification of Moses from entering the Promised Land. What was it? God said no to Moses for two reasons: First: Moses did not trust God completely. Second. He publicly dishonored God by his lack of self-control. What is the lesson here? When we dishonor God publicly, especially as an expression of anger or other emotions, God as Judge may SAY NO TO OUR DREAMS and REFUSE OUR PRAYERS. This is divine justice in operation. This is also the principle of “cause and effect” or “ sowing and reaping.”
Here is the mysterious side of God: We do not deserve salvation but He saved us anyway. God is kind and super generous but He can choose to deny us our dreams and say to our prayers. This happens when He is publicly dishonored.


II- God may sometimes refuse our prayers and deny us our dreams to direct our attention from what is important to that which is more important
The Promised Land is important but it was never intended to be the most important issue in the life of the Israelites. God said no to Moses because HE WAS REDIRECTING HIS ATTENTION FROM WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE: GOD’S PERSONAL PRESENCE AND FRIENDSHIP. The Promised Land was an important blessing. It was the dream of all dreams. And yet, the presence of the Promise give must always be bigger and better appreciated than the Promise itself. The Blessing cannot compete and must not compete with the Blessing Giver. Sometimes, the Promised Land can become idolatry. Sometimes, your blessing can become your “god”.

God will not just say NO TO YOU without a good reasons. And sometimes, the good reason is that we have already started replacing Him with the dreams He has given us. Sometimes, we have already stared replacing the Blessing-giver with the blessings He has given us. And so God, says no. The provisions cannot replace the Provider.

When we are only grateful for the blessing we forget to be grateful for the presence of the Blessing giver, it is called idolatry disguised as gratitude. But when we begin by thanking God for His presence and then we say thank you for His blessings, that is Grateful worship or Worshipful Gratitude.

III- God may sometimes refuse our prayers and deny us our dreams but He will never abandon us. He may withhold His provisions but will not withdraw His presence.
Deut. 34: 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.
Moses saw the Promised Land. He saw its beauty because his sight was excellent 120 years old. But he was not allowed to enter it and so never got to enjoy the Promised Land. However, God stayed with him all the way through to the last breath and when Moses finally died, God was even the one who buried him so his burial place was not known to anyone. Later in the future, Moses would given a gift that only one other person would enjoy, a chance to visit Earth again to have a time of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ when He was on Earth (Mt. 17).

What does this mean for us?
• Spirituality must be focused on the presence of God more than the provisions of God. Gratitude must be primarily because of His presence and only secondarily, because of His provisions.
• Self-control is very important in our Christian life. We must learn to control our anger at others because we might end up losing the gift that has been prepared for us.
• Serve Him faithfully. Even if he allows disappointments, He will never abandon someone who worships and serves Him. Be patient and serve Him, he never abandons His servants
• Who He is a bigger concept than what He gives. Therefore, when He says no to your request, He wants you to focus on him more than you focus on His gifts
Question: Do you love the blessing more than the blessing-giver?