Moses-The Friend of God-Part 16- A Lasting Legacy

Introduction- Numbers 27:12-23 & Deuteronomy 34

Tonight we will close out our series on the life of Moses with a look at the final days of Moses life.

As Moses’ life draws to a close it is interesting to see the heart that he still has for the fulfilment of God’s will and the desire to see Joshua succeed where he had failed.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” -Greek Proverb

A Final Revelation (Vs. 12-14)

God reveals to Moses that the time of his death is drawing near.

Here God once again speaks to Moses in a unique way this time in reference to his death.

God reveals to Moses that his time on earth is nearly finished.

God also gives Moses the opportunity to ascend the mountain so that he would have the chance to see the promised land before his passing.

Moses is reminded of the reason that he is not able to enter in, his rebellion in the wilderness by smiting the rock rather than speaking to it.

Though Moses’s rebellion did have serious consequences God graciously allows him to view the land of promise from the mountaintop.

This should serve as a reminder tonight for each of us that our time upon earth is also limited.

We may not like Moses know the particular timing of our death, but we do know that our time upon earth is short.

Hebrews 9:27 KJV 1900

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

May we live each day with the awareness that we shall one day leave this earth to enter into eternity.

A Final Intercession (Vs. 15-17)

Even in the final days of His life, Moses continues to intercede for the congregation of the children of Israel.

It would have been no surprise in these moments of Moses’s life to find him bitter, angry, or frustrated but amazingly this is not the case.

Moses immediate response upon receiving the news that he was nearing the end of his life is to intercede for the very people who could be considered to be the cause of his rebellion.

Moses concern is not for himself but for the people and for the ultimate fulfilment of the promise of God.

Moses is concerned that when he is gone there will be no one to lead the people.

Even after all that Moses has been through and the many times the people have complained, blamed, and falsely accused him he obviously still cares for them and is concerned for their wellbeing after he is gone.

Moses pleads with God to choose out another man who will be able to lead them so that they are not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Moses recognized that the people would need a godly leader to lead them into the land of promise and to guide them as they faced their enemies and claimed the land.

Some Final Instructions (Vs. 18-23)

God again responds to Moses’s intercession and tells him what he must do.

God gives Moses detailed instructions for the appointment of Joshua as his successor to lead the children of Israel after he has gone.

He tells Moses to take Joshua aside and to lay his hand upon him selecting him as the one who will assume the responsibility of leading the people.

He must then set him before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation and give him a charge there.

This charge was to encourage and prepare Joshua for the responsibility that would be his after Moses’s death.

This would signal to the people that just as they had followed Moses now they would follow Joshua when Moses was gone.

This would serve to provide a continuation of leadership for the children of Israel.

God knew exactly what would be required to ensure that Joshua would have the respect and allegiance of the people as he took over after Moses death.

At this point Moses rehearses the commands of the law before the people and then ultimately he ascends the mountain to view the land.

The Lasting Impact (Deuteronomy 34)

The children of Israel wept for Moses after his death for 30 days in the plains of Moab.

Though they complained and often rebelled against Moses, it now becomes apparent that ultimately they appreciated his leadership.

Joshua’s early success was also greatly owed to Moses obedience to the Lord in appointing him and bestowing honor and authority on him.

Moses would be remembered as a man that knew the Lord face to face and as a man used by God in a unique and powerful way.

He may not have gotten to lead the children of Israel into the promised land but he certainly played a key role in bringing about the fulfilment of this promise.

Conclusion

Tonight we must recognize that our time upon earth is also limited. God may not reveal to us the day of our death but we ought to live in light of the fact that we have only a short time to live here.

Our life here will one day come to an end but the work of the Lord must continue.

We should like Moses be concerned for the success of future generations.

We must do as Moses did and follow whatever instructions that God gives.

Moses had every right humanly speaking to be angry and bitter, to harbor jealousy or hatred for Joshua, and to long to see the children of Israel fail to claim the promised land.

Yet Moses was not angry or bitter and he wanted to see Joshua succeed and he was intent upon doing what he could to see the children of Israel go in and possess the land that God had promised them.