I imagine if you are reading this plan it is because you too have lost a dear loved one. The empty void has a way of rearing the ugly head of grief and putting a fog over those left behind. I too have battled grief and as I write this devotional, for the first time, I saw how God handled grief. Come, learn with me!
Eternity Matters With Norma
Day 1
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 32:48-52, Deuteronomy 34
LOSING ONE SO CLOSE IS TOUGH
I’ve lost a lot of people dear to my heart during my lifetime. My daddy when I was a teenager, my mama as a young adult, a dear close friend mid-life, my husband in my early 70s, and my only two siblings died two months apart, five years ago. Each death had a different kind of grief.
As I was reading about Moses’s death, I felt like a lightbulb moment happened. I know countless people face this unwanted road daily; therefore, I felt the need to share Biblical records about this issue.
Moses died at age 120, and scripture says his eyes were not dim, and he still had strength.
(Deuteronomy 31:2) This man had led well over a million Israelites for 40 years. Before the trek to the promised land, he battled for the people’s freedom with Pharaoh. Moses experienced all of the Hebrews’ weaknesses, temptations, and sins, and each time, he went in prayer to God, pleading on their behalf. Although the Israelites were grumblers, complainers, and often rebellious, they loved Moses.
“And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.” (Deuteronomy 34:8)
When you live with or among a person for decades, you get to know them; in this case, the people depended on him (Moses), so you can understand the grief when he died on Mt. Nebo. Joshua had mentored alongside Moses for years, and although he mourned, we will learn tomorrow how he moved forward.
Many times in life, we know of a loved one’s impending death, as many are diagnosed terminal. Such was the case for Moses, as God gave him forewarning that he would soon die. (Deuteronomy 32:48-52)
However, Moses had some loose ends to complete, and one of them was instructions for the Israelites. Even though they knew that their leader would soon die, grief still has a way of hovering over a person.
Takeaway: Today, we don’t put a timeline on the grieving process. I’m almost 8 years out from my husband’s death, and although I have adjusted, occasionally, grief sideswipes me again. No matter what your loss, or when it happened, there is a time for everything. Tomorrow, we will see what God’s view on grief entails!
Day 2
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 34:8, Joshua 1:1-2, Numbers 20:22-29
IT’S TIME TO GET UP AND MOVE
Yesterday, we read in Deuteronomy 34:8 that the Israelites had 30 days to mourn.
After the mourning time, God spoke to Joshua. God knew they couldn’t sit in their grief. It was time to get up and move. In Joshua 1:1-2, God told him to ‘lead the people and go.’
However, before Moses died, we had the death of his brother Aaron. What a sad time for the two brothers. They were leaders appointed by God, but God had to alter the plan because of their disobedience. God warned Aaron of his impending death and instructed him and Moses to go up to Mount Hor, where Moses was told to remove his brother’s priestly garments and put them on Eleazar. I can only imagine the grieving process began at that moment.
“So Moses did as the Lord commanded. The three of them went up Mount Hor together as the whole community watched. At the summit, Moses removed the priestly garments from Aaron and put them on Eleazar, Aaron’s son. Then Aaron died atop the mountain, and Moses and Eleazar went back down. When the people realized Aaron had died, Israel mourned for him thirty days.” Numbers 20:22-19
Notice Moses and Eleazar didn’t stay on the mountain where Aaron died. They went back to the people and mourned for thirty days. After the mourning, Chapter 21: 4-5 tells us the people moved on by way of the Red Sea, but in the first three verses, we learn that there was a skirmish between the Canaanites and the Israelites.
I don’t know about you, but when a person is fighting to live, there is little time for mourning and grief.
We often face unwanted events in life by dwelling on the issue. This is very normal and is part of the process, yet we must be careful not to dwell too long. These events are seasons in life that we walk through. Notice we don’t sit and dwell; we get up and walk through them. Sometimes, we have to force ourselves to stand up and put one foot in front of the other.
Takeaway: Life is full of seasons, full of good times and bad. When the bad happens, take time to face the issue, but there soon comes that day when we must stop dwelling, get up, and move forward.
Day 3
Scripture: Genesis 50
LEARNING TO WALK BY FAITH AGAIN
In the 50th chapter of Genesis, we have the account of a father’s death, his embalming period, his memorial service, and his burial. There is so much to learn from the account of Joseph’s preparation to pay tribute to his father, Jacob, to ensure a proper burial. Along with his grief, just like us today, he had to keep walking by faith to make all the plans and carry them out.
Those who have lost someone very close to them will resonate, as sometimes, as we move through the motions needed to move on, we feel we are ‘faking it.’ We smile on the outside and grieve inside.
It was only after Joseph encouraged his brothers that feared him, that they could adjust to life without their father. Joseph reassured them that what they meant for harm, God turned into something good.
It isn’t easy to put a smile on with a heart filled with anything but a smile, but often, that is what we do to keep going. I remember going to a fast-food restaurant by myself several months after my husband died. I forced myself to take this step. As I ate food, all the memories flooded my soul. My mind went to my husband sitting across from me and snapping that scrunched-up straw wrapper, which was soaring across the table at me to snap back at him. It is a little habit we got into doing just for fun. I got up and went to my car; it was too much. Oh God, how we need to lean on our faith to push forward.
It took courage and faith for Joseph to approach Pharaoh’s advisors, asking permission to take Jacob’s body back to Canaan for burial. In verses 2-3, the embalming process took 40 days, and the Egyptians mourned for 70 days. Then, they had 7 days of mourning during the memorial time. The distance between where they were in Egypt and the burial spot was estimated to be over 200 miles, so in their grief, they had to walk by faith; there was no sitting and dwelling.
Takeaway: It takes a long time to bury grief; sometimes, we never can, but the first step is to keep walking in faith.
Day 4
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 25:1, Genesis 50:24-26, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Revelation 21:4
CORPORATE MOURNING
“When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.” I Samuel 25:1.
Whenever a President, King, Emperor, Queen, or other essential leader of a nation dies, thousands gather to pay tribute throughout the days leading up to the funeral and burial. Most recently, Catholics and people of many faiths paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away. This is how it was in Bible times as well. When Samuel died, scripture tells us that “all of Israel” gathered to mourn for him.
How one determines to lay their loved one to rest is personal; some go all out, and others have private burials. There is no right or wrong way unless the deceased made a request before their death, as did Joseph.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt.” Genesis 50:24-26
The beautiful thing about those in Christ is that we know the separation is temporary and that we are not without hope. Whether we mourn corporately or privately, we can cling to the promise in God’s Word.
“Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.” I Thessalonians 4:13
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Takeaway: Allowing friends and family to comfort us in loss is a part of the healing process. That is why many chose to have a more corporate farewell, yet knowing Christ is the most empowering way to face the death that He conquered!
Day 5
Scriptures: John 11:21-35, Matthew 14:13-14, Luke 22:42-44
COMPASSION
Scripture gives many accounts of mourning and death in the Old and New Testaments. As we look at how God handled death, I pray hope arises in your spirit.
The scriptures tell us that Jesus wept when he saw Lazarus’s grieving sisters. His emotion over their brother’s death revealed his love and concern for Mary and Martha. They didn’t realize the power Jesus was about to enact in raising Lazarus.
When Jesus heard that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, his heart was moved with compassion, and scripture tells us that Jesus went away by himself to grieve. Matthew 14:13-14
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was in deep grief, and anguish:“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:42, 44. I love the verse in between, as verse 43 says, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”
God shows us how to handle grief through Jesus’ example.
• In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4.
• The Psalmist wrote, “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” Psalm 30:11
• To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3
Takeaway: Jesus’ heart showed compassion as He, too, grieved. His entire life was giving of compassion, giving to the extent that He went to the cross and bore our sins so that those who are in Him have the hope of eternity. Jesus’ entire plan was to take our problems upon Himself because He cares for us. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Matthew 11:28
Day 6
Scriptures: John 11:21-35, Matthew 14:13-14, Luke 22:42-44
COMPASSION
Scripture gives many accounts of mourning and death in the Old and New Testaments. As we look at how God handled death, I pray hope arises in your spirit.
The scriptures tell us that Jesus wept when he saw Lazarus’s grieving sisters. His emotion over their brother’s death revealed his love and concern for Mary and Martha. They didn’t realize the power Jesus was about to enact in raising Lazarus.
When Jesus heard that his cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded, his heart was moved with compassion, and scripture tells us that Jesus went away by himself to grieve. Matthew 14:13-14
When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was in deep grief, and anguish:“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” Luke 22:42, 44. I love the verse in between, as verse 43 says, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.”
God shows us how to handle grief through Jesus’ example.
• In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4.
• The Psalmist wrote, “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” Psalm 30:11
• To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3
Takeaway: Jesus’ heart showed compassion as He, too, grieved. His entire life was giving of compassion, giving to the extent that He went to the cross and bore our sins so that those who are in Him have the hope of eternity. Jesus’ entire plan was to take our problems upon Himself because He cares for us. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Matthew 11:28