FAILURE

Failure is real and opposed to the common sentiment in “feel good” sermons, sometimes it is final. Sometimes the opportunity is gone, sometimes the relationship dissolves and sometimes the privilege is given to another. It can be final… BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FATAL. You can move on, you can still be used by God, albeit in a different capacity, and your worth in God’s eyes isn’t based upon the perfection of your performance!

Because of this, we have to wrestle with the reality that God will at times keep you from the desire of your heart. He will at times give you a glimpse into “what could have been” and provide no way for you to obtain it. This was at least the sad reality that Moses was faced with. Keep in mind, this was the man whom God spoke to through the burning bush, the one through whom the Lord delivered His people from Egypt, the man who met God on the mountain and was given the law, the one who talked with God as though talking to a friend.

Say what you will, one thing is for certain, Moses was anything but a novice in the things of God. Yet, he died east of the Jordan, overlooking the land of promise, but unable to leave his footprints there and unable to lead God’s people in. Another would be given that privilege.

But why?

Volumes I imagine could be written answering this question, but at a bare minimum, Moses' predicament was brought about for one simple reason. No, it wasn’t a failure to succeed… but rather… a successful failure. Pay attention, there’s a valuable lesson for us to learn from this! God’s people were once again grumbling and complaining and thought themselves better off dead due to the lack of food and water. God heard them and responded in raw, undiluted, and unearned grace. Rather than letting them die, He instructs Moses to speak to a rock, at which time He would bring forth water for the people and their livestock.

The next thing you know, we’re told in Num 20:11 that “water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock”. By all accounts, it would seem that this was a great success. The results are fantastic! The numbers are undeniable! (did you see what I did there…Numbers) Rough-skinned faces are drenched with water, lips no longer chalky with the dryness of thirst, animals with droplets still falling from their faces after drinking their fill! Success! In fact, a measure of success that most of us would long to experience in our lives and individual endeavors. But here’s the problem, you can’t get to Numbers 20:11 without going through Numbers 20:10, and you can’t focus on the end while ignoring the means!

Prior to this moment of great success, and before the parched throats of God’s people were satiated with cool, refreshing water, in anger, and faithlessness, Moses first strikes the people with harsh words and then strikes the rock with fierce blows from his staff. Never mind what my opinion of it all might be, here’s what God thought about it, “Numbers 20:12 (ESV) — 12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Consequently, here’s how the last chapter of Moses' life comes to a close, “Deuteronomy 34:1–4 (ESV) — 1 Then 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 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”

There he was, standing upon the mountain, looking out at the land of promise that He had spent 40 years leading the people towards. Yet, his feet would never touch it in spite of his eyes gazing upon it. The desire of his heart was no doubt as strong if not stronger than ever before but more than delaying the desire of his heart, the Lord denied it and let another experience it in his place. Sad. Sobering even. But there is a lesson to learn.

Success, in any arena of life, says much more about God and His greatness than it does you and your goodness! It’s possible that you enjoy the company of a healthy and vibrant family, in spite of you. It’s possible that you have more than enough money and are blessed well beyond need with material possessions, in spite of you. It’s possible, for those in ministry, that you are blessed to lead a thriving, growing, and perhaps even multiplying church, in spite of you. In spite of the general sentiment all around us, the end doesn’t justify the means and apparent “success” doesn’t excuse a blatant disregard of God’s holiness and expectations.

Moses discovered this all too painfully when standing on Mt. Nebo; more vibrant and full of life than any of us would expect, he was given a glimpse of his heart’s desire but was barred from taking hold of it. It’s an account of a tremendously successful failure in life. Moses, during an unguarded chapter of life, was driven by a spirit of unbelief (I think my way will be more effective) and as a result became guilty of offering a gross misrepresentation (you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel) of who God was to His people. His actions, though successful on the surface, brought grave consequences. It was final!

Yet, in spite of the fact that this account relates to Moses' death, the failure itself was not fatal and neither is yours. There is a sweetness of God’s grace that permeates the air when you read of this last scene in Moses' life. Further, there are some valuable reminders for FAILURES OF THE FAITH.

PAST FAILURE DOESN’T DISQUALIFY YOU FROM A FAITHFUL FUTURE

God was with Moses. Yes, he was a man marked by a measure of serious failure, but God was still with Him. Yes, his failure came at a cost and resulted in a certain regret of “what might have been” but Moses was still usable. In fact, following the failure of chapter 20, Moses continued to be used by God and continued to find a place of purpose. So can you!

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS GREATER THAN YOUR FAITHLESSNESS.

Even when Moses was faithless, God remained faithful and the great work of leading His people into a land of promise still went forward. Believe it or not, although there will always be consequences that flow from our sin, nothing you and I do or fail to do will ever thwart the plan of God.

GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU IS BAFFLING…YES, EVEN AFTER A SEASON OF FAILURE!

Perhaps one of the sweetest passages in all of God’s word is that which follows Moses' unfulfilled dream of the promised land. Sometime after seeing but not experiencing the land of promise, Moses dies. Astonishingly, God, not a stranger and not a fellow Israelite, buried Moses. My mind can’t even fathom this! But perhaps in God’s strength, we can find faith enough to believe that the depth of God’s love and tenderness towards His sons and daughters is far more than we could ever imagine! Believe this!