April 15, 2024 | Be God's Light
The Death of Moses and Rise of Joshua
Scripture: Deuteronomy 34 (NIV)
1 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 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 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.
Devotional
Moses had led the people of God for forty years, freeing them from Egyptian slavery, crossing through the Red Sea on dry land with the waters split apart, guiding them through the barren wilderness, writing down the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Torah, and leading them to the precipice overlooking the Promised Land. There he died, leaving the task of crossing the Jordan River and possessing the land to his successor Joshua.
The final verses of the Book of Deuteronomy sum up his life: “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 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. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.”
His legacy would endure. Moses is mentioned after his death two hundred times in the Bible. When Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, he met with Moses (the embodiment of God’s law) and Elijah (the embodiment of God’s prophets). Upon reflection, what would you say are the top five moments from Moses’ life?
Psalm 90 is titled, “A prayer of Moses the man of God.” Read through this psalm and ask God to guide you in your life just as he did Moses.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Poem
Bury Me, Yaweh
Bury me, Yahweh,
Catch my last breath
Then return it to Your breathing
Bury me, Yahweh,
Close my eyelids to this world
Then rock me to sleep
Bury me, Yahweh,
Wash the death stink away
Then clothe me in Your righteousness
Bury me, Yahweh,
Sing Your love song around me
Then turn my mourning into joy
Bury me, Yahweh,
In the depths of Your earth
Then form me anew
Bury me, Yahweh,
Dig a place for me in Your heart
Then remember me on the day of Your coming
