Today’s Bible reading is Deuteronomy 33 and Matthew 11.
120 years. If you lived to be 120-years-old, how would you want people to summarize your life? What few words, strung together, would mean the most?
The conclusion of the Bible’s fifth book tells us about the death of Moses. He was 120 years old when he died (Deut 34:7). Just think of the phrases that could have been used to describe the incredible life of Moses. Prince of Egypt. Announcer of plagues. Nemesis of Pharaoh. Leader of millions. Dedicated judge. Covenant-mediator. Law-deliverer. Tabernacle-erector.
Each one of those phrases is amazing. Each one is a noteworthy thread in a tapestry 120 years in the making. But are these the best? The most outstanding? What few words, strung together, would mean the most?
I’ve never met Moses. I’ve watched over his shoulder in Exodus, listened to him in Leviticus, wandered with him in Numbers, and heard his last, heartfelt words in Deuteronomy. I feel like I know him, and I don’t think he would be disappointed by the two simple phrases used to summarize his remarkable life, one in Deuteronomy 33 and one in Deuteronomy 34.
“Moses, the man of God” (Deut 33:1).
“Moses, the servant of the LORD” (Deut 34:5).
If you lived to be 120-years-old, how would you want people to summarize your life? What few words, strung together, would mean the most? Real estate mogul? CEO of a Fortune 500 company? Millionaire? Billionaire? President of the United States? World-class athlete? Hollywood celebrity? Social media icon? Those are some remarkable phrases–the stuff of dreams for most. But are they the best? The most outstanding? Are there any words that would mean even more?
In light of eternity, there’s no doubt about it. Man of God. Woman of God. Servant of the LORD. Ten thousand years from now, what phrases will mean more than those?