Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: TRAVELER (01/28/16)
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TITLE: The last journey | Previous Challenge Entry
By Norm Cannada
02/04/16 -
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The 120-year-old traveler remembered many of the other adventures in his life as he walked. He also thought about the One who walked with him -- even when Moses didn’t realize He was there.
The first adventure was one he only knew from stories years later. As a baby his mother put him into a basket and laid Moses in the river in a desperate hope to save His life. Pharaoh had ordered the death of all Hebrew baby boys. Pharaoh’s daughter found him raised the baby. Moses’ mom was even chosen to nurse him.
Continuing up the mountain, Moses recalled the time he ran for his life – from Pharoah. He had defended a Hebrew slave and killed an Egyptian in the process. The fact that he had grown up as the king’s grandson wouldn’t save him. Pharaoh wanted Moses put to death and Moses traveled all the way to Midian, far out of reach of Pharaoh. He settled down with a family and a new life. He would never go back to Egypt.
Or so he thought.
Years later, Moses met the One who had traveled with him all along – the One True God who identified Himself as “I am who I am.” The Lord was in the midst of a burning bush. As Moses approached, he heard the voice of God for the first time. His life was changed forever – in purpose and in relationship with God.
After failing to talk God out of His plan, Moses reluctantly followed The Lord’s command to go to back to Egypt to face another Pharaoh. With his brother, Aaron, by his side, Moses spoke the words God had given him, “Let my people go!”
A new adventure began as God revealed His power through Moses by turning water into blood followed by plagues of frogs, gnats, flies, boils, hail, deaths of livestock, locusts and utter darkness. The last great display of God’s power was the death of all the firstborn Egyptians and animals. Moses was a little amazed as he continued to climb to the peak, remembering the children of Israel were spared from all the plagues.
Finally Pharaoh surrendered and the children of Israel were set free from 430 years of slavery. It was such a celebration as they left Egypt. People were laughing, singing and dancing. They didn’t even notice at first that Moses had led them to the edge of the Red Sea.
Moses recalled how the celebration soon turned to fear as the Egyptian army came approached. With the enemy on one side and the sea on the other, it appeared the Israelites were doomed. Moses smiled as he remembered how God saved His biggest miracle for this moment – parting the Red Sea so the people could walk on dry ground. The Egyptians tried to follow, but God released the sea just in time to save the Israelites and drown the Egyptian army at the same time.
For the next 40 years, Moses led the Israelites into the wilderness. There were difficult times, but Moses grew closer to God, learning to trust Him more and more along the way.
At the top of the peak, Moses found The Lord was waiting for him. The peak overlooked the land God promised to give to Abraham’s descendants. The Israelites would soon enter and conquer the land, but Moses would not be with them. Out of frustration with the people, he failed to follow The Lord’s instructions a few years earlier. He was at the peak that day to see the land he would never enter.
Somehow, though, that didn’t matter at this point. He was in the presence of the God of the Universe, the One he trusted and loved more than anyone else. He died in the presence of his best friend.
The scripture says the One who had been with Moses in life was also there for him in death. According to Deuteronomy 34, God took Moses down to the valley and buried Him. There is no more intimate portrait of a relationship between a traveler and his Creator than God carrying His friend, digging a hole and gently placing the body of Moses there.
I wonder if he wept.
“There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.” (Deuteronomy 34:10 NLT)
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I thought the last line ended this story well.
Thank you for your article.
God bless~
Red ink: I think perhaps in editing you made some changes and forgot to delete some of what you started with. For ex. Pharoah's daughter found him raised the baby; also the Egyptian army came approached. There were some unnecessary capitalized words also.