Scripture: Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Deuteronomy 34:1-12 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the Lord informs Moses that the time has come to say goodbye to his people, for his passing is near (32:48-52). So, Moses offers a final blessing to the twelve tribes (chapter 33). In the conclusion of this farewell address (above verses), Moses circles back to his opening praise for God’s extraordinary care of Israel (vv.26–27) and congratulates Israel for being God’s chosen people (vv.28–29).
For today’s reading, Moses passes the baton to Joshua, with the Lord taking Israel’s greatest prophet to his eternal resting place (vv.10-12). In the opening verses, the author (likely Joshua at this juncture) first provides geographical details (given the land is an essential element of Israel’s identity). So from Mount Nebo at the top of Pisgah (opposite Jericho), the Lord showed Moses all the land as far as the eye could see, which would have been extensive since, at age 120, his eyes remained undimmed (v.7). The Lord then buried Moses in the valley of Moab opposite Beth-peor (where Moses previously read the law to Israel), but no one knows precisely where.
The epilogue also tells us that Israel mourned for thirty days on the plains of Moab (v.8). And before his death, Moses transferred his spirit of wisdom onto Joshua by laying his hands on the nation’s new leader, which inspired the people to obey Joshua (v.9).
Takeaway: Even though Moses missed out on leading Israel into the Promised Land (due to his contemptuous behavior at the waters of Meribah-kadesh), the Lord extended grace to Moses. How so? First, he led Moses to another mount (Nebo) that marked a second epoch of the Exodus (the first being at Mount Sinai). Here, Yahweh personally shows him the land flowing with milk and honey. (We can only imagine Moses’ mixed emotions of joy and sadness.) Then, the Lord tenderly leads Moses to his resting place and buries him. Indeed, these signs of grace tell us of Moses’s intimate relationship with his Lord to his last breath.
Our takeaway? While we cannot choose when we die (assuming we do not hastily take matters into our own hands), we can choose how we will die. Having touched on this subject in previous Daily Focus devotions, suffice it to say that we can appropriate our Lord’s peace that passes understanding, even if our imaginations run wild and we succumb to feelings of terror. How so?
Our part? Again, we turn to the three anchors of our faith: prayer, reading and reflecting on Scripture, and the support of godly believers. But we must express our honest thoughts and feelings to God, friends, and loved ones. We would also do well to focus on what awaits us beyond our last breath rather than before. And when we submit to the Word under the lead of the Holy Spirit, we will sense the presence of Christ and his other-worldly peace. Thus, like Moses, we can choose how we will die: peacefully and contently aware of our Lord and Savior’s presence to our last breath or feeling isolated and terrified by our fears. Personally? I recommend the former. 😉
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for the story of Moses, who lived a fully orbed life with highs and lows but always knew your presence. And we thank you for the most incredible story ever told: that of your Son’s intimate, incarnate life with you that ushered in a new age of covenantal grace and shalom rest for us. So, please help us learn how to walk intimately with you, your Son, and your Holy Spirit so that fear of death would not grip us but instead your unfailing love, grace, and peace. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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