Reflections on Deuteronomy 34

 

Deuteronomy 34 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Sometime later, Moses left the lowlands of Moab. He went up Mount Pisgah to the peak of Mount Nebo, which is across the Jordan River from Jericho. The LORD showed him all the land as far north as Gilead and the town of Dan.
   
2. He let Moses see the territories that would soon belong to the tribes of Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Judah, as far west as the Mediterranean Sea.
   
3. The LORD also showed him the land in the south, from the valley near the town of Jericho, known as The City of Palm Trees, down to the town of Zoar.
   
4. The LORD said, "Moses, this is the land I was talking about when I solemnly promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give land to their descendants. I have let you see it, but you will not cross the Jordan and go in."
   
5. And so, Moses the LORD's servant died there in Moab, just as the LORD had said.
   
6. The LORD buried him in a valley near the town of Beth-Peor, but even today no one knows exactly where.
   
7. Moses was a hundred twenty years old when he died, yet his eyesight was still good, and his body was strong.
   
8. The people of Israel stayed in the lowlands of Moab, where they mourned and grieved thirty days for Moses, as was their custom.
   
9. Before Moses died, he had placed his hands on Joshua, and the LORD had given Joshua wisdom. The Israelites paid attention to what Joshua said and obeyed the commands that the LORD had given Moses.
   
10. There has never again been a prophet in Israel like Moses. The LORD spoke face to face with him
    
11. and sent him to perform powerful miracles in the presence of the king of Egypt and his entire nation.
    
12. No one else has ever had the power to do such great things as Moses did for everyone to see.
    

    ---

    Deuteronomy concludes with the death of Moses. Moses' final act was to see the Promised Land. He went up to the top of Mount Nebo from where he could overlook the land and "the LORD showed him all the land." (34:1) These words, "the Lord showed him" are significant in that this was no normal view of the land from Mount Nebo. The human eye could not see all the territory described in these verses. However the Lord showed Moses, whether through a vision or some other means, it must have been an amazing experience.  

    
    

    We are given to understand that Moses was unique: "No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face." (34:10) We are also to recognize that Moses' leadership of Israel did not end due to declining physical ability. It was for spiritual reasons that the Lord ended his leadership of Israel and gave the mantel to Joshua. As unique a person as he was, Moses was, nevertheless, a man, and there has never been a man without sin except for Christ. The precipitating sin for Moses was his lapse of faith at the waters of Meribath-kadesh. This did not keep him from a special relationship with God, for he continued in that relationship up to his death when God showed him the Promised Land and evidently buried Moses Himself. However, this sin did mar Moses' blessing and privilege.