PROPHET OF PROPHETS!
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Opening Prayer
Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teach me to worship only you, for you alone are worthy!
Read DEUTERONOMY 34
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Death of Moses
34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from 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[a] 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[b] 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.
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 34:6 Or He was buried
- Deuteronomy 34:9 Or Spirit
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are your traditions to honor someone in your family who has died?
Here ends the story of one of history’s most significant figures. Well, not quite (see below)! The account of Moses’ death was obviously written by someone other than the great man himself. How amazing that, for all the mighty acts God accomplished through him (vv. 10–12), he remained extremely modest. Christian leaders would do well to take a leaf out of his book!
The Israelites lamented Moses’ death for 30 days (v. 8) before proceeding into Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. We are given a very interesting detail about his funeral arrangements—God kept his burial place hidden (v. 6)! Imagine how, if the site of his grave had been public knowledge, it could easily have become a place of veneration drawing thousands of pilgrims. Believers are often tempted to idolize great men and women of God rather than give all the glory to the Lord they served.
Let us note two things in closing. First, as we rightly praise God for the superlative prophet Moses was (v. 10), let us rejoice that he was superseded by the ultimate Prophet of whom all others were types and shadows, our Lord Jesus Christ! Second, Moses makes one more appearance in Scripture after his death—on the Mount of Transfiguration. There he converses with the Messiah in all his glory, along with Elijah.1 Just think—one day, all Christ’s followers will contemplate the divine countenance, as Moses and Elijah did!
Apply
Deuteronomy ends with the Israelites about to enter Canaan. Meditate on the Promised Land that awaits us.2
Closing prayer
Thank you, Jesus, that someday I will see you face to face when you come to establish your kingdom, when you come and make everything new!
1 Matt 17:1–8 2 Rev 21:1–5
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