Deuteronomy 1-4
Moses' Disappointment

The book of Deuteronomy begins with Moses retelling of the forty-year journey of the Israelites on their way to Canaan. In chapter 4, he tells of his desire to lead the people into the new land. "And I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying, 'O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? 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. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan'" (3:23-27).

It is obvious that Moses wanted to go into Canaan, but it is equally obvious it was not the LORD's will. The apostle Paul went through a similar experience in Acts 16. We are told he had wanted to go preach in Asia and Bithynia, but he was not allowed by the Holy Spirit to do so.

It is very normal for us to make plans and to have grand expectations. Most long to get married, have children, watch them marry and have children of their own, have a good job they enjoy day after day, and live a long and healthy life. Does that sound familiar? Sometimes they work out-God blesses or allows those desires. At other times, they don't. Some who want to get married don't. Some who want children never have them; or, they disappoint them, or they deal with health problems in their children. Sometimes we deal with our own health problems. Sometimes people die early in life. Sometimes business go belly-up. Sometimes marriages aren't happy. How do we deal with such disappointments? How did Moses deal with it? Or Paul?

Jesus Himself gives us the perfect example here. In the garden of Gethsemane, hours before His crucifixion, He prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me..." Jesus had a desire. We can wrestle long and hard about all the theological questions that arise from this scene, but He does express a desire. A desire that did not come to pass as He asked. He drank from the cup. But, His trust in the plan devised from before time began is revealed by what He said at the end of Matthew 26:39, "...nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." He repeated this part of the prayer as well. Jesus understood that sometimes our human sides are disappointed, but we must be committed to the will of the Father. If we are, then those disappointments will pale in comparison to the riches of His blessings both here and hereafter. We must content ourselves with the understanding that His agenda, not ours, is always correct and best (Romans 8:28). And, while this life is rarely perfect and often filled with disappointments, if we are faithful to God, we will spend an eternity with Him in a place where there will be no more tears, mourning, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).

Such an understanding does not remove disappointment or their pain, but it does pull things into perspective. The things that happen here are temporary. People who trust God cling to the eternal, and that makes disappointments bearable.