Greatest Contribution

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." -Deuteronomy 6.4-9

Nearly two years ago I had the chance to stand on top of Mount Nebo and there I heard one of the most brilliant biblical minds give insights into the final days of the life of Moses. Here in Deuteronomy 6 we find the most important teaching for the Jewish nation. This section of scripture is known as the Shema.

Moses tells them that God is one and they shall love Him with their whole being. The words that he is sharing shall be on their hearts and taught to their children diligently. They shall always be discussed, and bound on their hands and foreheads. They shall be written on the doorposts of their houses. And there is a branch of the Jewish nation that still follows this today. They wear phylactery boxes on their foreheads and right arms. They place mezuzahs on the doorposts of their houses. These containers hold the words of Deuteronomy 6.4-9 and serve as a reminder of the teaching of Moses given here.

I say all of that to point out that Moses' greatest contribution came when he didn't expect it. Moses had hoped to enter the land with the people, to lead them as they took possession of it. But because of an act of disobedience he was forbidden to. He doesn't sulk and waste away, but continues to lead them and is used by God. This teaching he gives them still impacts the nation of Israel to this day.

Men, you don't know when you will make your greatest contribution, but most likely it will come when you least expect it to. The question you must answer is are you willing to remain faithful to God, and be available for His service, no matter what?

Had Moses refused to continue to lead the people because he couldn't enter the land, he wouldn't be remembered as the great leader he was. He never would have made this impact that has lasted for thousands of years. Our greatest impact can come at a time and place when we least expect it. Are we willing to remain faithful so it happens?

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Jewish men and boys praying at the Wailing Wall with their phylactery boxes in place