Deuteronomy 34: 1-12
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, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the eastern sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as the Zoar. Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land that 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 it.”
And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where the grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the Plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt–to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
A Thought
After leading the people for forty years, God now shows Moses the land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses was a friend to God who was permitted to speak face to face with him. Moses had good eyesight and full of strength up until the time of his death at 120 years old. Moses had prepared his people to follow the Lord by writing the commands of God in the book of law from beginning to end for them to place in the ark of the covenant knowing that they were a rebellious people. Moses told them if they did not obey these words disaster would fall on them. Moses laid hands on Joshua to be filled with the spirit of wisdom so the people would listen to him. After Moses had performed all these awesome deeds, he then died there in Moab where God buried him.
Our Prayer
Father help us to learn from the leading of your friend, prophet Moses that if we are obedient to your word, we can accomplish great things for your kingdom. Help us to learn from the disobedience of the Israelite people and not to make the same mistakes that they encountered in the desert. Forgive us when we do not love and obey you. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
