The honours system is frequently questioned, not because of the many worthy people who receive a grateful nation’s thanks for their service. Questions arise when there is a hint of cronyism, or an unhealthy link between political activity and honours received.
If you could nominate an Old Testament character for an honour, I wonder who you would select for your favour? I can think of reasons to rule in and rule out so many of the colourful characters of Israel’s history.
Moses perhaps?
Today’s reading from Deuteronomy 32:44-52 is almost at the end of Moses’s life. The wilderness years are over, the people are on the verge of the Jordan and in his valedictory sermons Moses summarises the struggle, the goodness of God and the point of the laws and ordinances that he has passed on from God. All this, Moses tells the people, is to ensure that you live well and maximise the best of your relationship with God.
A great service rendered. Honour due? A place at the top of the tree when they finally enter the Promised Land?
God has a different plan. Moses is taken in to the mountains and shown the future stretched out; the new territory is spread out and he sees it as we may see Suffolk below us as we fly in over the coast and take the route south to London on a journey back from Scandinavia. The message is stark – you will not enter it yourself. Why?
Here is the answer as it was presented to Moses by God: “50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.”
The great servant of God and the people whom we may well choose to honour was human and flawed and so God had to make the point. There is more to what follows, Moses is treated well enough by anyone’s measure, but this is a sharp reminder of the absolute justice of God.
It is good that we honour those who serve us and whom we respect but we must not expect that God will ignore any part of the life of any of us. We should beware seeing anyone as a total paragon of virtue.
A Prayer
God of truth and justice, you see every part of our lives. Give us the strength to avoid the slips and trips that accompany a fall. When we fail, forgive us and lift us up once more and make us glad of our forgiveness for we know we need it. Help us not to lose heart but to turn to you with renewed determination to live in your strength and trust your justice. Amen.