Basic HTML Version
296
The Beginning of the End
and be gathered to your people.” Moses was now to leave on a
new and mysterious mission. He must go out to resign his life into
the hands of his Creator. He knew that he was to die alone; no
earthly friend would be permitted to minister to him in his last hours.
There was a mystery and awfulness about the scene from which his
[234]
heart drew back. The severest trial was to be separated from the
people with whom his life had been united for so long. But with
unquestioning faith he committed himself and his people to God’s
love and mercy.
Moses’ Last Blessing
For the last time Moses stood in the assembly of his people.
Again the Spirit of God rested on him, and in grand and touching
language he pronounced a blessing on each of the tribes, closing
with a special blessing on them all:
The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms. ...
Then Israel shall dwell in safety,
The fountain of Jacob alone,
In a land of grain and new wine;
His heavens shall also drop dew.
Happy are you, O Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord,
The shield of your help.
Deuteronomy
33:27-29
Moses turned from the congregation, and in silence and alone
made his way up “Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah.” He stood on
that lonely mountain and gazed with clear eyes on the scene spread
out before him.
Far away to the west lay the blue waters of the Mediterranean
Sea. In the north Mount Hermon stood out against the sky. To the
east was the high plain of Moab. And beyond lay Bashan, the scene
of Israel’s triumph. To the south stretched the desert, where they had
wandered so long.