The Death of Moses!

The New International Version Chapter 34

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

We are starting right of with what some believe to be a disappointing end to moses’ 120 year journey!

the end of his 40 year ministry

This is often viewed as a sad time.

it doesn’t seem fair does it?

Moses works all those years

Follows God’s commands

leads these people

then dies just before reaching that promised land.

We will get to understanding that momentarily

and we will do it with Scripture, instead of assumptions.

First let’s break down some of what is going on in this text.

Moses knew ahead of time, as we see in Duet. 32, that he was going up there to see from a distance and die.

Moses essentially walked up to his own funeral.

According to this God’s Word here, by all standards, Moses was still healthy.

there was no physical reason that Moses was ready to die, except it was the time that God had chosen.

So he went up the mountain and was given an opportunity to see.

He started by looking north as God pointed out all the area, then was guided around looking out

likely beyond what the eye can normally see, which suggests assistance from God!

Then we see the indications of who Moses was and how special the things that he did in the name of Jesus were

In this line of sharing about Moses, in no part do we see Moses called a God

nowhere do we see that he is divine

nowhere does he defeat the grave.

So why did moses not enter into the promise land?

Let’s look at the text.

Exodus 32:51-52

The New International Version Chapter 32

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. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”

What this is in reference to is when God told Moses to speak to the rock to draw water out.

Moses directly disobeyed the Lord and followed what he had known worked before.

Moses did not enter because of the Justice that God brought forth.

When the creator of the universe and everything in it, carries out Justice, it is always the right thing.

If we see or think otherwise, then we can know that we are not seeing through His eyes and wisdom.