Deuteronomy 34:1 says, And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, Moses went up Mount Nebo to the top of Pisgah and God showed him the Promised Land. He did't get to go in, but he did get to see the earthly Promised Land. Moses went willingly and alone to the place where he knew he was going die, because he knew he was going to the heavenly Promised Land then. We should never desire anything in this world more than we desire our heavenly home as Christians. Verse two adds, And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, Verse three continues, And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. This was quite a view, but it was nothing compared to the one that he was soon to have. No matter how great things may look in this life, they are nothing compared to what Heaven will be like. Verse four states, And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. God told Moses that this was the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that He was allowing Moses to see it, but He was not allowing him to enter it. Of course, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob never even saw the Promised Land here on earth, but they were all now in the Promised Land of Heaven. God's promises may not happen in our lifetime, but they will surely happen in His time schedule. Verse five adds, So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. Moses died in accordance with God's word, and so will we, but as followers of Christ that is just the beginning of our life in heaven. Verse six continues, And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. God buried Moses in an unmarked and unknown grave. If they had known where Moses was buried, they might have turned his grave into a place to be worshipped. I believe that is why we aren't told nor do we need to know where the tomb of Jesus is. Verse seven concludes, And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. When Moses died at one hundred twenty years of age, he was still physically strong. His not going into the Promised Land was not due to his failing health, but due to his act of disobedience in the desert. Verse eight says, And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. After Moses went up the mountain to die, the people of Israel mourned for him thirty days. They knew why he was going up the mountain and that he wasn't coming back down. Verse nine adds, And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. Joshua, who had been appointed Moses's replacement was said to be full of the Spirit of Wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him in accordance with God's direction. It wasn't Moses who gave Joshua the Spirit of Wisdom, but it was God Who did. When one Christian leader dies today, God will call someone to replace him, and we like the people of Israel did with Joshua need to listen to him as he leads us by the Spirit of God to follow God's way. Verse ten continues, And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, We are then told that there was never another prophet in Israel like Moses whom God knew face to face. Of course, there is One greater Who came, and that is Jesus Christ, but He was not a prophet, but the fulfillment of all prophesy. Verse eleven states, In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, Verse twelve adds, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. Then, the book of Deuteronomy concludes by referring briefly of all the great things that God had done while Moses was the leader of the people of Israel. At the end of our life, it would be wonderful if people could remember great things that God has accomplished for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom through our life. We will next review some of the things we learned in Deuteronomy.
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