March 2, 2025 – Transfiguration Text: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Dear Friends in Christ,
A little girl was on a cruise ship with her parents, and as they were looking out over the deck, the girl said to her father, “Look daddy, I can see farther than my eyes can see.” Where have you been that is farther than your eyes can see? Looking out over an ocean? A mountain peak? For those of us in Central Illinois, we can say about every one of us has been to the top of the Willis Tower or the Hancock in Chicago, the Arch in St. Louie, or even Watterson Towers on the campus of Illinois State. All places where you see farther than the eyes can see.
How is your vision? In a congregation our size it is varied. Many of you have glasses or contacts. Some of you have reading glasses. Some have retina problems or macular regeneration. Others have great vision and have never had their eyes checked by a professional. Today in our text Moses sees, but what does he see? Moses did not lose what the Lord what trying to show him. How about you?
“DO YOU HAVE A VISION OF THE LORD’S PLAN?”
How did Moses get to this point? We have to go back to the Lord’s words to Abraham in Genesis 12:1 when the Lord promises to bring the people “to the land that I will show you.”
So, Moses leads two million, incredible right – 2 million people out of their slavery in Egypt. This is no walk in the park. The complaints he must have heard. You didn’t bring enough food and water…Aren’t you going to stop and ask for directions or are we going to keep on wandering…This desert area doesn’t look like a good place to bed down. Quiet you people. I am going up a mountain and you need to wash yourselves so you can be in the presence of Almighty God. Nice plan. Except when he comes down, they are singing and dancing to a golden calf. So, you want to be a travel agent? Moses sees everyone at their best and their worst.
There are times we see each other at our best and worst. It happens in our homes, at our workplaces, in our churches, on the roads, at the ballgames, the hospital, the nursing home. Up and down. Left and right. “Let’s go Moses.” “Uh, this guy doesn’t know what he’s doing.” We are a funny people.
This doesn’t come through in the Bible, but Moses had to be gifted with a sense of humor. This does come through in the Bible, his vision was tempered with patience. God promised him he would see the Promised Land but only from a distance. He was 120 with eyes undimmed and vigor unabated. The Lord kept the vision alive for Moses, but He also kept it alive for Joshua, the man who succeeded Moses.
Do you have a vision of the Lord’s plan when you lie in a hospital bed? Do you have a vision of the Lord’s plan when you look at your accident scars? Do you have a vision of the Lord’s plan when your marriage or family goes off the rails? Do you have a vision of the Lord’s plan when facing a death or your own mortality? This Promised Land trek took years to complete. Many of the people lost the vision. I’ve seen many of you struggle to look even a week ahead. Lord grant us your vision and patience.
Other than Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one guy in all our readings is Moses. The Lord knew him face to face. The signs and wonders he did are unequalled. He is unmatched in his display of leadership and influence. He is honored for his faith in Hebrews, “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s House as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later.” (Heb. 3:5) The writer of Hebrews also points out that while Moses was great, no one is greater than Jesus. God buried Moses, and he is still dead. We do not worship Moses. We do not lead people to Moses. Instead, through the leadership of Moses, as well as the prophets, we lead people to Christ, who leads us all to the promised land of heaven. That’s the vision. Can you see it?
God kept his promise to the Israelites. God keeps His promise to us through Jesus. Standing on the threshold of Lent we are going to view some dark, dreary days – suffering, rejection, killing. But you can see the rest of the vision. “On the third day He will be raised.” (Luke 9:22). This is God’s promise and God keeps His promises.
Our greatest vision is what Moses is experiencing. His perfect eyesight views a heavenly landscape. One day there will be people farther than the eye can see who will be assembled around the throne of God. Open your eyes and catch the vision!
Amen.