Deuteronomy 34:1-12
1 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, 2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 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.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended.
9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, 12 and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
1 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, 2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 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.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended.
9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, 12 and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Moses gave his final warnings and blessings and then was shown the promised land which God’s chosen people would enter after his last breath. Faithful Joshua was now leading them further into battle and conquest of the land after the forty years of his mentor leading the people through the wilderness out of Egypt’s bondage. He had seen the mighty works of God through Moses over the years, and observed how Moses met face to face with the LORD in the tabernacle as known personally by Him. The land was promised long before the four plus centuries in Egypt, and now was before them as a bittersweet time for Moses and anticipation of all Israel. Even so, Moses died with all his strength and vigor, but was called home as a consequence of a rebellious moment of a lack of faith, but was still spoken well of by God as the ultimate prophet known by Him who performed the miracles faithfully to free his people from bondage. Yet God’s promises were not moved from His Sovereign purpose and plan. Joshua was faithful in surveying this new country, and was not only allowed to live, but also to lead the battle into the land. He had a God-given wisdom and the people followed him as they did Moses. We learn how God will use us even when we fall, but the consequences may hold us back from some things. Even so, we will enter the heavenly country upon death and leave others behind who we have disciples to carry on the good fight which Paul spoke of to Timothy and others such as the Philippians. May we strive to live faithfully as Joshua and Moses with the best examples of each one to avoid falling as best we can (Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:11-13) and to confess and press when we do sin (1 John 1:9, Philippians 3:12). Amen and amen!
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