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October 24, 2023

Wandering and Wondering

Sophia Agtarap   |   Read Deuteronomy 34:4-12

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Lectionary Week
October 23–29, 2023
Scripture Overview

The end of Deuteronomy completes the story of the life of Moses. Although he led the people out of Egypt, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he lost his temper in the desert. The difficult task of leading the people back to the land will fall to Joshua. The psalmist calls out to God for mercy because the people have been suffering as a result of their disobedience. Paul defends himself against the charge that he has been preaching out of a desire for fame or money; the approval he seeks comes only from God. Jesus has yet another confrontation with religious leaders attempting to trick him. He avoids their schemes and emphasizes that love of God and love of neighbor summarize the entire law.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

Read Deuteronomy 34:1-12. When has a leadership transition in your faith community been difficult for you? When has it been sacred?Read Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17. How do you make God your dwelling place?Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. How can you strive to love those whom you have never met? How can you meet new people with love as siblings?Read Matthew 22:34-46. How do you wrestle with the Bible? When have your questions strengthened your faith or revealed something new?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Deuteronomy 34:4-12

4 Then the LORD said to Moses: “This is the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I promised: ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have shown it to you with your own eyes; however, you will not cross over into it.” 5 Then Moses, the LORD’s servant, died—right there in the land of Moab, according to the LORD’s command. 6 The Lord buried him in a valley in Moabite country across from Beth-peor. Even now, no one knows where Moses’ grave is. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight wasn’t impaired, and his vigor hadn’t diminished a bit. 8 Back down in the Moabite plains, the Israelites mourned Moses’ death for thirty days. At that point, the time for weeping and for mourning Moses was over. 9 Joshua, Nun’s son, was filled with wisdom because Moses had placed his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to Joshua, and they did exactly what the LORD commanded Moses. 10 No prophet like Moses has yet emerged in Israel; Moses knew the LORD face-to-face! 11 That’s not even to mention all those signs and wonders that the LORD sent Moses to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to his entire land 12 as well as all the extraordinary power that Moses displayed before Israel’s own eyes!

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic led us into our own time of wilderness wandering and wondering. As we experienced the shutting down and reopening of our places of worship, work, school, social gathering—the ways we did life together—many of us began daydreaming about new possibilities. While navigating the realities...

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God, meet us in the wilderness, in our wandering, and in our coming home. Amen.


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