“One day the Lord said to Moses, “Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel. After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron, for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) Then Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” The Lord replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him. When direction from the Lord is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim—one of the sacred lots cast before the Lord—to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded. He presented Joshua to Eleazar the priest and the whole community. Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.”
Numbers 27:12-23 NLT
The relationship between God and Moses was a friendship. It was typical in that it had its ups and downs and difficulties. Nevertheless, there was a mutual respect between the two. God respected Moses because he was the man he created him to be, and Moses respected God because he was the God that he claimed to be. It was a process to have this understanding between them and part of that understanding was the implementation of clear boundaries and consequences. Therefore, it came as no surprise when God told Moses that his time was finished and reminded him that he would not enter the promised land. Moses didn’t object. He was satisfied relationally and turned to the only pertinent matter between the two friends. He only asked for their mutual interest to be fulfilled in a new leader. Here we see a proper perspective on one’s sin. Acceptance, repentance and recalibration. God honored, as always does, this kind of heart and request. Being friends with God doesn’t mean that consequence is no longer present. It doesn’t mean that these consequences no longer separate us from him. We ought to go securely and faithfully into our own deaths which as much security in our relationships with God.
God-Moses Relationship: A friendship characterized by mutual respect, clear boundaries, and consequences.
Moses’s Acceptance: Moses accepted God’s decision regarding the promised land, demonstrating a proper perspective on sin.
Consequence of Sin: Consequences of sin, such as separation from God, remain even in a friendship with God.
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