Death of Moses
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the whole land of Canaan. He there in the mount fully realized the
rich blessings Israel would enjoy if they would faithfully obey the
commandments of God.
It was not the will of God that any one should go up with Moses
to the top of Pisgah. There he stood, upon a high prominence upon
Pisgah’s top, in the presence of God and heavenly angels. After he had
viewed Canaan to his satisfaction, he lay down, like a tired warrior, to
rest. Sleep came upon him, but it was the sleep of death. Angels took
his body and buried it in the valley. The Israelites could never find
the place where he was buried. His secret burial was to prevent the
people from sinning against the Lord by committing idolatry over his
body. Moses had accomplished much for Israel. In all his instructions
to them could be seen justice, intelligence and purity.
The life of Moses was marked with supreme love to God. His piety,
humility and forbearance gave him influence with the host of Israel.
His zeal and faith in God were greater than those of any other man
upon the earth. He had often addressed his people in words of stirring
eloquence. No one knew better than he how to move the affections
of the people. He conducted all matters connected with the religious
interests of the people with great wisdom.
Satan exulted that he had succeeded in causing Moses to sin against
God. For this transgression, Moses came under the dominion of death.
If he had continued faithful, and his life had not been marred with
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that one transgression, in failing to give to God the glory of bringing
water from the rock, he would have entered the promised land, and
would have been translated to Heaven without seeing death. Michael,
or Christ, with the angels that buried Moses, came down from Heaven,
after he had remained in the grave a short time, and resurrected him,
and took him to Heaven.
As Christ and the angels approached the grave, Satan and his angels
appeared at the grave, and were guarding the body of Moses, lest it
should be removed. As Christ and his angels drew nigh, Satan resisted
their approach, but was compelled, by the glory and power of Christ
and his angels to fall back. Satan claimed the body of Moses, because
of his one transgression; but Christ meekly referred him to his Father,
saying, “The Lord rebuke thee.” Christ told Satan that he knew that
Moses had humbly repented of this one wrong, and no stain rested
upon his character, and his name in the heavenly book of records stood