Approaching Nebo’s Peak

Chapter I. Introduction- Moses’ Thoughts and Mine
He climbed with sure steps and perfect eyesight the slopes of Nebo toward Pisgah’s peek. No one would have guessed this strong climber was 120 years old. Just over the Jordan was a land Moses has spent a third of his life traveling to find. You can see the excitement in his eyes, but a sad memory clouds his mind. The land will be everything the Lord promised but he will never enter it. In a moment of weakness at Meribah he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. This cost him his entrance into the Promised Land. "And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon….” But the Lord was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the Lord said to me, 'Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.’” Deut 3:23-27
Moses reached the top and looking to the North could see the majestic twin mountains Lebanon and Herman. Lebanon was bedecked with green cedars and Herman white with snow. His vision moved westward to the Mediterranean Sea and over the Galilean highlands to the pear shaped Sea of Galilee. Further to the south was the Plain of Esdraelion where the ancients fought more battles than any other spot in the world. Noble King Josiah would lose his life there.Dropping his view further he saw the Sheffalah of Samaria and Judea bordered on the west by the Plain of Sharon and the east by the Jordan gorge through which the Jordan River snaked its way to its grave in the Dead Sea. Due west of Nebo were the five peaks including Zion where the Great King built his capital city.
Turning to his left Moses saw the Negev and the desert wildernesses of Paran, Zin, and Ethan where he wandered with two generations of Israelites for forty years. Truly it was a good land flowing with milk and honey.
We cannot be too sad for Moses. Later he would appear with Elijah on the Mountain of Transfiguration and discuss with our Lord his coming death. (Lk 9:30) Moses never reached Canaan though I expect to see him soon in a land that beggars comparison to any other. I want to join the chorus that sings the “song of Moses and the Lamb.” (Rev15:3)
Ninety years have passed since I started my journey to the Promised Land and I can identify with what must have been some of the thoughts of Moses. Unlike Moses my eyesight could be improved and my strength is much abated, but with the help of the Lord I can still climb. I want to share my thoughts as I near the completion of the journey. Perhaps they will help others when the end is in sight. God has no retirement age in his service. John Milton suffered blindness at the age of forty three and asked, “Does God demand day labor, light denied?” (Poem, On His Blindness) The answer is “yes,” but he has promised, “As thy days so shall thy strength be.” (Deut 33:25)
Paul had suffered much and achieved much but he looked toward the finish line and said, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14)
Andy Rooney said, “I've learned....That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.”
¬Some Lessons Learned
Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.” Brother Gus Nichols was approached by a young preacher who asked, “What university did you attend?” He answered, “The University of Hard Knocks.” The young preacher with a puzzled look on his face said, “I don’t believe I have heard about that university.” It seems I have spent several terms in the “University of Hard Knocks.” The lessons learned have sometimes been painful but always profitable and permanent. My mother always wanted me to be a preacher. When I was fourteen she sent me to Dasher Bible School (Georgia Christian Academy) to begin my training. There I learned a great lesson in a Bible class that was not a part of the study. I had been in Sunday school all my life and since my conversion a year before had been studying my Bible. I thought my class in Matthew would be easy so did little study preparing for my first test. I was shocked to see so many blanks that required specific information. I filled in a few blanks and sat staring at the ceiling. A movement to my left caught my attention. I cast a glance and my girlfriend was offering to share her answers with me. I copied from her paper and learned later she was no Bible scholar. We both made 71 on the test. The superintendent’s daughter who was in my class told me the teacher had gone to her father about cheating on the test and I had better do something soon.