Deuteronomy 3:28 But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.' Before we get into today’s verse, let’s read it in it’s entire context. Deuteronomy 3:23-29 "Then I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying: 'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.' But the LORD was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the LORD said to me: 'Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.' So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor. Moses wanted to go into the Promised Land, but because of his sin, Moses was not able to go. Yet, God did allow Moses to see it, “Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes” Simply, if you think about it, Moses had a request that he made to God. “I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon” Yet God said no to going there, but yes to seeing it with his eyes, and when you read it, Moses did not say, “God let me go into the Promised Land and live there for several years” but rather, “let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan” And God, in His love, grace and Mercy allowed Moses to see the land, just not step foot into the Land. So God did answer part of Moses request. It would be like you hearing about this awesome house and all it contained and asked the Lord for it, but because of sin in your life God says to you, I will allow you to see the outside of it, but you will not go inside of it or live in it. But if you think about it, even though God said “No” to Moses, it did not mean that God would not use Moses, because we know God used Moses for 40 years to lead the children of Israel through the wilderness and to the edge of the Promised Land. God knew this, and Moses knew this to. Yet despite Moses’ sin, God still used him, and not only used him to lead, but also to prepare another (Joshua) to complete what God had started with Moses. “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.” Even Paul asked the Lord to do something in His life, and he even ask the Lord three times, yet God answered him with a no, yet God still used Paul in many ways. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Maybe there is something you have been asking the Lord for, but He has said no to you. It doesn’t mean God will not use you or doesn’t love you, because He will use any willing vessel, but He will use you how He wants to use you and bless you how He wants to bless you. God said no to Moses about entering the Promised Land here on the earth but said yes to spending eternity in the Promised Land in heaven. Just let your comfort be in God, Who is all knowing, and He knows why He is saying no to you… and when He will say yes to something else that is better for you. 1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Proverbs 11:14 (MSG) Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.