Death of Moses
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the charge of Joshua. The work of Moses as leader of Israel was ended.
Still he forgot himself in his interest for his people. In the presence
of the assembled multitude Moses, in the name of God, addressed to
his successor these words of holy cheer: “Be strong and of a good
courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which
I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.” He then turned to the
elders and officers of the people, giving them a solemn charge to obey
faithfully the instructions he had communicated to them from God.
As the people gazed upon the aged man, so soon to be taken from
them, they recalled, with a new and deeper appreciation, his parental
tenderness, his wise counsels, and his untiring labors. How often, when
their sins had invited the just judgments of God, the prayers of Moses
had prevailed with Him to spare them! Their grief was heightened
by remorse. They bitterly remembered that their own perversity had
provoked Moses to the sin for which he must die.
The removal of their beloved leader would be a far stronger rebuke
to Israel than any which they could have received had his life and
mission been continued. God would lead them to feel that they were
not to make the life of their future leader as trying as they had made that
of Moses. God speaks to His people in blessings bestowed; and when
these are not appreciated, He speaks to them in blessings removed,
that they may be led to see their sins, and return to Him with all the
heart.
That very day there came to Moses the command, “Get thee up ...
unto Mount Nebo, ... and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto
the children of Israel for a possession: and die in the mount whither
thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people.” Moses had often left
the camp, in obedience to the divine summons, to commune with God;
but he was now to depart on a new and mysterious errand. He must go
forth to resign his life into the hands of his Creator. Moses 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 before him, from which his heart shrank. The severest trial was
his separation from the people of his care and love—the people with
whom his interest and his life had so long been united. But he had
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learned to trust in God, and with unquestioning faith he committed
himself and his people to His love and mercy.