Author: Lana Lee

Deuteronomy 34:1-7 NKJV — Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.

The view must have been incredible. To be shown the land that God had promised. Breathtaking would not even begin to describe what Moses had seen. The mission had been completed. Banished from Egypt, climbing the mountain of God with a face to face with the Great I Am. Confronting Pharaoh with the message from God, “Let my people go!” – A message that was not easily received. The Egyptians would come to realize that their pagan idols and the chariots of Pharaoh would be no match against the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There was the spectacular crossing of the Red Sea and the receiving of the Ten Commandments written by the hand of God. 

The deliverance of the Hebrews from bondage and all these miracles Moses had witnessed and yet he was not allowed to cross into the promised land because of disobedience. Because of memories of their past lives, doubt and disobedience to the new way of life God had instructed upon them caused what should have been a relative short journey to the land of promise into a wandering in the wilderness for 40 years until the last of that generation had passed. Now it was Joshua’s turn to lead God’s people. The view that God allowed Moses to witness was like no other. 

John 14:1-3 NKJV — “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

It was only a 2 mile hike. How hard could it be? Of course, me, the king of underestimating everything would play apart in the day’s events but hey, I was game. It was our anniversary, Gatlinburg, Tennessee and my wife wanted to climb to the top of a mountain called, “Chimney Tops!” 

The day began with a hearty breakfast, which included pancakes, we planned the day before us and we grabbed a couple of Subway® sandwiches, something to drink and drove to the starting point of our 2 mile adventure. Somehow the hike reminded me of the journey we are on in our walk of life. The climb was not so bad and with my beautiful wife along with me, who could ask for more? Cruising along through life can be the path we all may want to follow but for most of us that isn’t reality. Moses had a life of a prince. Egypt had it all. Everything at his beck and call and yet, it wasn’t enough. His climb in life took a turn and it led on a path that would change not only his life but the lives of a nation and the world.  

Psalm 16:11 NKJV — You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

My path to the top of “Chimney Tops” may not have been as dramatic as the path of Moses but it was challenging enough. My walk at that time had its moments but the closer I got to the destination the harder the climb became. Rocks, there were rocks to climb. The last 100 feet would be tough. Trials and tribulations are a given in this life and it’s something we all have to face. Like the rocks ahead of us we have to find a way to navigate and reach the goal or the reward God has for us. 

Sickness, personal loss or loss of confidence should never stop us from reaching what the Lord has appointed to us. Prayer, fasting and obedience to God’s Holy Word is the formula we need to conquer the rocks in front of us. Satan wants to discourage you and make you feel that God has no use for you. That is not true! You were born for a purpose. To be a living example of the Lord’s love and everlasting grace. 

We had reached the top. We unpacked our lunches and settled in to enjoy the view. It may not have been what Moses saw but the Smoky Mountains were and are spectacular. We completed our journey and as we smiled at each other we both live with the realization that God leads our lives in all things and we worked together to find a way to make the right steps through the rocks. This should remind us that through prayer and seeking out other prayer warriors to be in agreement there is nothing stopping God from helping you, especially, if the Lord has appointed you to share His ever loving Gospel. We sat on top of that mountain and all I can tell you, it was a view like no other.

Matthew 18:20 NKJV — “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

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