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Death of Moses
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Alone, Moses reviewed his life of hardships since he turned from
courtly honors and from a prospective kingdom in Egypt to decide
that his future would be with God’s chosen people. He called to
mind those long years in the desert with Jethro’s flocks, the Angel’s
appearance at the burning bush, and his call to deliver Israel. Again
he could see the mighty miracles of God’s power displayed on behalf
of the chosen people, and His long-suffering mercy during the years
of their wandering and rebellion. Of all the adults in the vast army
that left Egypt, only two had been found so faithful that they could
enter the Promised Land. His life of trial and sacrifice seemed to
have been almost to no purpose.
Yet he knew that God had given him his mission and work. When
he was first called to lead Israel from slavery, he pulled back from
the responsibility, but he had not refused the burden. Even when
the Lord had proposed to release him and destroy rebellious Israel,
Moses could not accept. He had received special evidences of God’s
favor, he had obtained a rich experience in the fellowship of God’s
love during the stay in the wilderness. He felt he had made a wise
decision in choosing to bear suffering with the people of God rather
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a little while.
As he looked back on his experience, one wrong act spoiled the
record. If that transgression could be blotted out, he felt that he
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would be ready to die. He was assured that repentance and faith in
the promised Sacrifice were all that God required, and again Moses
confessed his sin and asked earnestly for pardon in the name of
Jesus.
Now a panoramic view of the Land of Promise was shown to
him, not faint and uncertain in the dim distance but standing clear,
distinct, and beautiful to his delighted vision. In this scene he saw it
not as it then appeared but as it would become with God’s blessing.
There were mountains covered with cedar trees, hills gray with olives
and fragrant with the scent of the vine, wide green plains bright with
flowers and rich in fruitfulness, palm trees, waving fields of wheat
and barley, sunny valleys musical with the ripple of brooks and the
song of birds, beautiful cities and lovely gardens, lakes rich in “the
abundance of the seas,” grazing flocks on the hillsides, and even
amid the rocks the wild bees’ hoarded treasures. It was truly such a
land as Moses, inspired by the Spirit of God, had described to Israel.