The final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy tells of the death of Moses, the death of the leader who saw from afar the land towards which he himself was journeying and leading his people, but which he was not to enter. Strange? At first sight, yes. On the other hand...
The final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy tells of the death of Moses, the death of the leader who saw from afar the land towards which he himself was journeying and leading his people, but which he was not to enter. Strange? At first sight, yes. On the other hand, it was not Moses who was leading his people to the land promised by God; it was God who was leading both the people and Moses himself there. But then why was even the prophet not allowed to enter where all the others entered?
Yes, many things happened along the way, and even Moses, the man of God, sometimes did things of which God disapproved. If, however, Moses is compared with all the others in this respect, then those others certainly had no business being in God's land at all. Moses remained a man of God, whereas this could not be said of most of those who made up God's people. If Moses did not deserve to set foot on the land that God had intended for His people, then who did?
Yet in reality things are not so simple. The land is not merely a reward for proper behaviour or spiritual qualities. Abiding in it is itself a spiritual process. It requires a quite definite state corresponding to the quality of the land as God conceived it. God is not simply leading the people to a place where He wishes to settle them; He is leading them to a place of encounter with Himself. He leads them there so that a new life may begin for the people, a life in God's presence, and so that He may work with His people, making them the people and community He intended them to be from the very beginning.
There can be no single universal standard here. Everything depends on a person's capacities and spiritual potential. Indeed, following God presupposes the unfolding of the possibilities He has given to the person who follows Him. It is a process involving both God and man, and each person's fullness of life with God is unique, as is the path towards it. That is why far more was required of Moses than of anyone else among the people.
This is not about punishment, but about where exactly Moses was to attain that fullness of earthly existence which was to complete his earthly journey, just as, in the normal course of things, every person's earthly journey should be completed. God decided to bring Moses' journey to its completion on the threshold of the land He had promised His people. It was His decision, and its wisdom is hardly worth doubting, just as Moses himself did not doubt it.
34 Moses having finished his testimony, finishes his life. This chapter was probably added by Samuel, who wrote by divine authority what he found in the records of Joshua, and his successors the Judges. Here is, The view Moses had of the land, Deu 34:1-4.
His death, burial, and age, Deu 34:5-7.
Israel's mourning for him, Deu 34:8.
His successor, Deu 34:9.
His character, Deu 34:10-12.
34:1 And Moses went up - When he knew the place of his death he chearfully mounted a steep hill to come to it. Those who are well acquainted with another world, are not afraid to leave this. When God's servants are sent for out of the world, the summons runs go up and die!Unto Dan - To that city which after Moses's death was called so.
34:2 All Naphtali - The land of Naphtali, which together with Dan, was in the north of Canaan, as Ephraim and Manasseh were in the midland parts, and Judah on the south, and the sea, on the west. So these parts lying in the several quarters are put for all the rest. He stood in the east and saw also Gilead, which was in the eastern part of the land, and thence he saw the north and south and west.The utmost sea - The midland sea, which was the utmost bound of the land of promise on the west.
34:3 The south - The south quarter of the land of Judah, which is towards the salt sea, the city of palm - trees - Jericho, so called from the multitude of palm - trees, which were in those parts, as Josephus and Strabo write. From whence and the balm there growing it was called Jericho, which signifies, odoriferous or sweet smelling.
34:4 I have caused thee to see it - For tho' his sight was good, yet he could not have seen all Canaan, an hundred and sixty miles in length, and fifty or sixty in breadth, if his sight had not been miraculously assisted and enlarged. He saw it at a distance. Such a sight the Old Testament believers had of the kingdom of the Messiah. And such a sight believers have now of the glory that shall he revealed. Such a sight have we now, of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, which shall cover the earth. Those that come after us shall undoubtedly enter into that promised land: which is a comfort to us, when we find our own carcases falling in this wilderness.
34:5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died - He is called the servant of the Lord, not only as a good man, (all such are his servants) but as a man eminently useful, who had served God's counsels in bringing Israel out of Egypt, and leading them thro' the wilderness. And it was more his honour, to be the servant of the Lord, than to be king in Jeshurun. Yet he dies. Neither his piety nor his usefulness would exempt him from the stroke of death. God's servants must die, that they may rest from their labours, receive their recompense, and make room for others. But when they go hence, they go to serve him better, to serve him day and night in his temple. The Jews say, God sucked his soul out of his body with a kiss. No doubt he died in the embraces of his love.
34:6 He - The Lord, buried him either immediately, or by the ministry of angels, whereof Michael was the chief or prince. Of his sepulchre - Of the particular place where he was buried: which God hid from the Israelites, to prevent their superstition and idolatry, to which he knew their great proneness. And for this very reason the devil endeavoured to have it known and contended with Michael about it, Jud 1:9. God takes care even of the dead bodies of his servants.As their death is precious, so is their dust. Not one grain of it shall be lost, but the covenant with it shall be remembered.
34:7 His eye was not dim - By a miraculous work of God in mercy to his church and people.
34:8 Thirty day's - Which was the usual time of mourning for persons of high place and eminency. 'Tis a debt owing to the surviving honour of deceased worthies, to follow them with our tears, as those who loved and valued them, are sensible of the loss, and humbled for the sins which have provoked God to deprive us of them.
34:9 Wisdom - And other gifts and graces too, but wisdom is mentioned as being most necessary for the government to which he was now called. Upon him - And this was the thing which Moses at that time asked of God for him.
34:10 Whom the Lord - Whom God did so freely and familiarly converse with.
34:12 Moses was greater than any other of the prophets of the Old Testament. By Moses God gave the law, and moulded and formed the Jewish church. By the other prophets he only sent particular reproofs, directions and predictions. But as far as the other prophets came short of him, our Lord Jesus went beyond him. Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ as a son: his miracles more illustrious, his communion with the father more intimate: for he is in his bosom from eternity.Moses lies buried: but Christ is sitting at the right - hand of God, and of the increase of his government there shall be no end.