Deuteronomy 34 The Death of Moses
34 1-3 Moses climbed from the Plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah facing Jericho. God showed him all the land from Gilead to Dan, all Naphtali, Ephraim, and Manasseh; all Judah reaching to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev and the plains which encircle Jericho, City of Palms, as far south as Zoar.
4 Then and there God said to him, “This is the land I promised to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the words ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I’ve let you see it with your own eyes. There it is. But you’re not going to go in.”
5-6 Moses died there in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of God, just as God said. God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. No one knows his burial site to this very day.
7-8 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight was sharp; he still walked with a spring in his step. The People of Israel wept for Moses in the Plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.
9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. The People of Israel listened obediently to him and did the same as when God had commanded Moses.
10-12 No prophet has risen since in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face-to-face. Never since has there been anything like the signs and miracle-wonders that God sent him to do in Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—nothing to compare with that all-powerful hand of his and all the great and terrible things Moses did as every eye in Israel watched.
Well, Moses is at the end of his ministry and he still hasn’t gotten to enter the Promised Land. However, God does allow Moses to ascend to the top of Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah, across from Jericho, where he can see all of Canaan. Even though God cannot allow Moses to enter, He still blesses Moses with this vision. God loves Moses, but He must carry out His judgment against Moses for rebelling at the Waters of Meribah.
Moses dies there, and God hides Moses’ body so that nobody can build a shrine or an altar or even attempt to preserve Moses’ body through mummification. Who knows what kind of Egyptian funeral rites some of the Israelites might carry out if given the chance? God wants Moses to be remembered but not to be worshiped.
Even though Moses is 120 years old, he is still physically active with sharp eyesight. God has preserved Moses through his entire ministry, and now Moses simply falls asleep in God’s hands. The Israelites grieve for Moses for thirty days; meanwhile, Joshua assumes command.
One of the loveliest descriptions of Moses comes in the final verses: “No prophet has risen since in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face-to-face. Never since has there been anything like the signs and miracle-wonders that God sent him to do in Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—nothing to compare with that all-powerful hand of his and all the great and terrible things Moses did as every eye in Israel watched.”
Psalm 116:15 tells us, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Viewing death from our perspective, the death of loved ones means loss and grief. Two weeks ago, we lost our beloved kitty, Mr. Cat, and the hole that loss has left in our hearts is still there. But God’s perspective is the reverse: Now God’s loved ones have been released from what C.S. Lewis called “the shadow lands,” and they will forever be with the Lord. What must it have been like in heaven when Moses died? How great was the rejoicing? What a release for Moses? Now Moses and God could communicate directly. Even though Moses had been meeting God face-to-face, now Moses has no more physical limitations. Moses is in the presence of Pure Love, Pure Light, Pure Holiness, and Pure Joy.
These studies are written for many reasons, but chief is that readers will come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Romans 2:11 tells us, “For there is no preferential treatment with God.” (J.B. Phillips translation) God does not play favorites. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses is the same God who desires that you love and obey Him. This same God has sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live as a man and to die for your sins. Let’s pray.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that nothing we do is good enough for us to earn our way into heaven. Please forgive us for our sins. We accept the sacrifice Jesus has made for our sins and we are trusting that sacrifice has cancelled our sins and that because we believe, we will spend eternity with You. We ask this in the matchless and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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