The Final Deeds of Moses {Deuteronomy 31:1-34:12}
12:00 AM
The life of Moses can be broken down into three forty year periods. The first forty he spent as a prince of Egypt. The next forty he spent as a fugitive, living as a shepherd in the desert. And in his final forty years he served God, leading the Lord’s chosen people from bondage and into the promised land.
Knowing that his death was soon approaching, Moses spoke to the people of Israel saying, “I am a hundred and twenty years old today; I am no longer able to come and go, and the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross this Jordan’.” (v. 31:2) Even though, “his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated”,(v. 34:7), Moses was no longer physically able to lead the people in battle. And because of his sin against the Lord in striking the rock (Num. 20:12), God punished Moses by not allowing him to cross the river. So as he prepares to leave them, he gives his final counsel to the Jewish people and puts the role of leadership in the hands of Joshua, the son of Nun from the tribe of Ephraim.
Moses begins by telling the Israelites to be strong and courageous. “The Lord is the One who goes ahead of you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (v. 31:8) The nations who possessed the promised land were powerful, but none more powerful than God. When we love and follow the Lord in obedience, we never need worry about the battles we face. No matter the challenge, God has already gone ahead of us and secured our victory. Fear is a powerful tool of the enemy. He uses it to keep us weak and stuck. Many times he used it successfully against the people of Israel. And so Moses charged them to not be afraid. A message he also gave to Joshua; who heard the same message repeatedly spoken by God Himself. A message so important Moses wrote it down, gave it to the Levitical priests who kept it the ark of the covenant, and commanded it be read to all of the people every seven years at the feast of booths.
After commissioning Joshua in sight of all the people as the next leader of Israel by saying, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as their inheritance.” (v. 31:7), God commands Moses to compose a song. Sadly, the Lord knew that after the death of Moses, the people of Israel would again fall back into their wicked ways and forsake their covenant with Him. This sermon in song form wasn’t a hymn of encouragement, but rather written as a testimony against Israel for their rebellion against God. During our times of trouble, the first place we should turn to for lifting us out of sorrow is God’s Word. But when we reject and rebel against God that same Word can be used to lay a conviction upon our hearts. One of my favorite verses from the song of Moses is verse 32:11. “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, He spread His wings and caught them, He carried them on His pinions.” “God brought Israel through many dangers to teach the people how to soar as His special treasure.” (Dr. Charles Stanley) What a beautiful picture of our Father who keeps us under His protective care. He is always there flying beside us ready to take us up and bear us on His wings when we grow too weary to fly.
Finally, like Jacob did before his death, Moses blesses each of the tribes of Israel. After, he climbs to the top of Mount Nebo. There God allows him to see the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I can only imagine the feelings that must have flooded the heart of Moses. There he stood finally seeing the land flowing with milk and honey. A land that took forty long years to reach, yet at the same time not being able to step foot in it. All because of his own sin and disobedience to God. So close yet so very far away. And there in the land of Moab, Moses died and was buried by the Lord. “Since that time, no prophet has risen Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform.” (vs. 34:10-11) As great as Moses was, He was still only a man. A man who followed the Lord through thick and thin. A man who because he trusted and obeyed, God did wonderful and miraculous things through. We should all strive to be like Moses. We should follow God with all of our hearts so that He can do amazing things through us as well!
0 comments