Bound for the Promised Land

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Common English Bible (CEB)

Moses’ death

 1 Then Moses hiked up from the Moabite plains to Mount Nebo, the peak of the Pisgah slope, which faces Jericho. The LORD showed him the whole land: the Gilead region as far as Dan’s territory; 2 all the parts belonging to Naphtali along with the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, as well as the entirety of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea; 3 also the arid southern plain, and the plain—including the Jericho Valley, Palm City—as far as Zoar.

 4 Then the LORD said to Moses: “This is the land that I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I promised: ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have shown it to you with your own eyes; however, you will not cross over into it.”

 5 Then Moses, the LORD’s servant, died—right there in the land of Moab, according to the LORD’s command. 6 The Lord buried him in a valley in Moabite country across from Beth-peor. Even now, no one knows where Moses’ grave is.

 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight wasn’t impaired, and his vigor hadn’t diminished a bit.

 8 Back down in the Moabite plains, the Israelites mourned Moses’ death for thirty days. At that point, the time for weeping and for mourning Moses was over.

 9 Joshua, Nun’s son, was filled with wisdom because Moses had placed his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to Joshua, and they did exactly what the LORD commanded Moses.

 10 No prophet like Moses has yet emerged in Israel; Moses knew the LORD face-to-face! 11 That’s not even to mention all those signs and wonders that the LORD sent Moses to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to his entire land— 12 as well as all the extraordinary power that Moses displayed before Israel’s own eyes!

Beginning with the Sunday School story of Moses and the Bullrushes, every Sunday morning for the last two months we have been reading from Exodus, the adventures of God with Moses, prince of Egypt. Our Bible story this coming Sunday finishes the episode. As God’s servant, Moses has led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt into the wilderness, bound for the Promised Land. At last the end is in sight, both for the exodus and for Moses. 

An exciting new chapter in salvation history demands new leadership. God leads Moses to the top of Mount Pisgah, where there is a wonderful vista, and shows him Israel’s destination, the land He promised to Abraham so long ago.

Moses dies there, still strong and healthy for his age. But it’s time. By the laying on of hands, leadership passes to Joshua. 

We shall soon see God confirming Joshua by blessing him in the same ways that He blessed Moses before him. As life goes on. 

Bound for the Promised Land.

TW+