Monday 1st September
Read Deuteronomy 34
“Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, opposite 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.” (NIVUK)
The end, or is it? Moses dies after seeing the promised land and is buried quickly in an unmarked grave (vs 6). There were 30 days of grieving and mourning but no body/memorial to focus on; grief of loss but no opportunity to ‘venerate’ a body (possibly I am too aware of the Israelites capacity to idolise objects and people, but that also applies to us now). Joshua, empowered by the Spirit (a mantle passed on) takes over leadership and the people listen, there is a smooth transition of leadership. The last few verses focus on the relationship of Moses and God, Moses was a man who knew God face-to-face, chosen and empowered as a prophet to follow God’s direction for the salvation of His people. There is in Moses’ life a pointer to one who was to come to bring salvation to all of Abraham’s ‘children of faith’ a few centuries later. There is much to be learnt from Moses about following God faithfully and humbly. This book is worthy of a ‘return visit’ and greater depth of pondering!
Geoff Hinch
