12 Verses That Summarize The Most One Could Hope For Having Lived As A Mortal -- Deuteronomy 34

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Moses Views Promised Land, Dies, Is Replaced, and Is Extolled -- Deuteronomy 34

We have come to the last chapter of Deuteronomy. It's only twelve verses long. Let's go through the highlights:

1. Moses obeys God's request that he climb up Mount Nebo. Matthew Henry says that it was as if Moses in climbing the mountain, was climbing up towards heaven, indicating his willingness to die. And in return for his obedience, God "showed him all the land". I've noticed throughout Scripture that there seems to be a correlation between obeying God and getting our heart's desire. It may not alway be our first choice, but God's choice for us will always ultimately lead to greater true joy and life, than our choices -- even if at first we will have to go through some very challenging and almost impossible times, or have to go to the point of losing our lives. But having obeyed God, it's what comes afterwards, or at the end of it all, that really counts. That is a very hard lesson for each of us to learn.

Common sense would require that we agree that Moses as the author of this book ends here at the very latest and that Joshua takes over from here on in.

5. Moses dies as "the servant of the Lord". He dies "according to word of the Lord". That's how I want to die. I want to die as "a servant" of the Lord's. And I want to die accepting God's appointed time for me to die and the way I would die. No regrets.

6. Moses is buried in the valley in the land of Moab. But notice who buried him. The text says, "He (God) buried him". And the actual location of his burial spot is not known to man, even to this day.

Now we should point out here as Chuck Smith reminds all those that are interested in knowing all references to Moses' death that we are told in the book of Jude (verse 9) that Satan and the angel Michael had a dispute over the body of Moses. God buried him, but not before there was a dispute over his body.

Matthew Henry explains what the fight over his burial might have been all about when he says,

"The devil would make the place known that it might be a snare to the people, and Michael would not let him. Those therefore who are for giving divine honours to the relics of departed saints side with the devil against Michael our prince."  Henry just had to get that dig in, but he's right.

I had never noticed the fact that it was God who buried Moses. That should tell us a lot about their relationship. Can you imagine how God felt at that moment in history? One of his greatest servants had been asked to die for the cause of Israel and he did.  And God had to bury him. Can you think of a parallel?  Many years later God's greatest Servant also had to die for the cause of mankind and He did. And while God allowed Him to be buried by others, He took Him out of the tomb, resurrected Him, and then took Him back to Himself.

7. Now get this -- even at age 120 when he died, the Scripture tells us that Moses' vision was very good and so was his vigor.

This is in contrast to the eyes of Isaac, Gen. 27:1, and Jacob, Gen. 48:10. I'm 73 and I'm told I soon will be a candidate for cataracts. And my vigor? Well, let's put it this way -- the four miles a day my wife and I were doing for years up to a couple of months ago in one hour, now takes us up to an hour and a quarter. And my guess is things will only get worse. But not for Moses. He lived almost half a century (47 years) more than I am now and his vision did not dim, nor his vigor wane. God needed him to be like that until his appointed time to die.

David Guzik says this about his death:

"Moses' epitaph - the line on his tombstone - was simple.

- It was not "Moses, Prince of Egypt."

- It was not "Moses, Murderer of an Egyptian."

- It was not "Moses, Shepherd in the Wilderness."

- It was not "Moses, Spokesman for a Nation."

- It was not "Moses, Miracle Worker."

- It was not "Moses, Prophet."

- It was not "Moses, the Man Who Saw a Piece of God's Glory."

- It was not "Moses, Who Never Entered the Promised Land."

- At the end of it all, the title was simple: Moses the servant of the LORD."

8. Israel mourned him for thirty days in the plains of Moab.

I am sure you have witnessed the passing of many people in your life time.  Some were very close to you -- perhaps a parent or a child; some were acquaintances from work; and some were famous leaders. But I will venture to argue that accept for those that were intimately close with the deceased, no one else mourned their passing for thirty days and stayed near the burial location while doing so. In Moses' case, the entire nation of Israel did just that. I think God was trying to get a message across to them because He loved them and He was saying, "what this Prophet told you, this Moses that you are mourning so much, you must heed his words because he was My servant and the words he spoke were My words." 

9. Joshua who was "filled with the spirit of wisdom" because Moses had laid his hands on him, was now being listened to by the sons of Israel. And Joshua did as the Lord had commanded Moses to tell him to do.

Joshua was ready to take over Moses' responsibilities. God had selected him and had arranged for his training under the guidance of Moses for all these years. He had proven himself in the earlier tasks he had been given. But more than that, he was "filled with the spirit of wisdom" because Moses had blessed him. That gave him credibility and he was to be listened to by the people. But for his part, Joshua was not to stray from what he had been commanded to do in leading the people.

I often wonder how many mature Christian leaders are ever in such a relationship with God that they can bless a younger leader to the point of his/her being "filled with the spirit of wisdom" so that others listen to them and so that they themselves stay true to the words of God?

10-12. The text says that since that time no greater prophet had risen in Israel like Moses which God knew "face to face". What made him so was also all the signs and wonders God had sent him to perform, and all the mighty power he was given, and all the great terror which Moses performed "in the sight" of Israel.

In these last three verses of the entire book of Deuteronomy we get a summary of Moses' special privilege and his special life. God knew him "face to face". And God had allowed him to be used mightily in God's service.

David Guzik does make an interesting comment about the "face to face" phrase:

"The term face to face does not literally mean "physical face to physical face," but it has the idea of free and unhindered communication. Moses had a remarkably intimate relationship with God."  You choose the meaning.

I am not suggesting that we could all be like Moses. I'm not suggesting that we could all know God face to face. Or that we might have the powers that Moses had. But I am suggesting that each of us could know God more than we know Him today. And I am suggesting that each of us, by walking closer with God (and without expectations), be used more by God.

Both of those things are my desire. I pray they are yours. 

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God's Response To Your Prayers For Others

Finding Favor In God’s Sight 

Exodus 33:12-16: Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, Thou dost say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But Thou Thyself hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Moreover, Thou hast said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’ Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found favor in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight. Consider too, that this nation is Thy people.” And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then he said to Him, “If Thy presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Thy sight, I and Thy people? Is it not by Thy going with us, so that we, I and Thy people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

We long to find favor in the sight of someone (a person we are devoted to) or we hope that circumstances will favor us (for a goal we are chasing). Having favor is a good thing. Some work to be the favorite son/daughter. Some work toward having the teacher’s favor or the the boss’s.  But throughout history, a few good men and women have chosen to desire the favor of God. And they weren’t losers. Contrary to what some people think, those with high IQs are just as likely to seek God’s favor as the rest of us.  Moses was one of those people.

In the preceding segment of our discussion, we learned that Moses was comfortable enough with God as he had the privilege of speaking with the Almighty ‘face to face’ figuratively speaking, as one friend speaks to another. With that kind of relationship that God and he had established, Moses was not afraid to challenge God lovingly, and he did, for good purpose – the saving of his people, the Israelites.

So Moses asks God to tell him who God intends to send with Moses and the people as he takes them to the promised land. “You want me to do this, God, but you won’t tell me who you are going to send with me, since you’re not coming.”  Wow.

And if that’s not enough, he continues: “God, You said You have known me by name; and that I found favor in Your sight. But if that’s the case, why are You not letting me know Your ways?” I think Moses was appealing to the fact that they had a good relationship, that they had spoken to each other as friends. And friends share their plans.

It is important to note here that because Moses has found favor in God’s sight, he expects to know the ways of God (to know what God was thinking or planning). But seeking that is not about having extra knowledge himself through which he could succeed in his own endeavors, but rather as the text says, he wants to know God’s ways in order that he may “know” God. Is that the end purpose for knowing God’s ways? Not really. Moses says, “I want to know Your ways so that I may know You and that will bring me right back to where I really want to be, in a place where I have found favor in Your sight.” You see, it is a circular process. We find favor in God through obedience; we learn His ways as He shares them with us; and in so doing we know Him better; and this in turn, gives us more favor with, or keeps us in the favor of, God. I think that any child of the Creator who follows that process sincerely and passionately, would be sending to God a sweet aroma of praise and adoration – music to His ears from His beloved child.

And then Moses keeps on going. “And look God, consider this. This is not just about You and me. This nation of the Israelites that I represent is your nation, your people. What about them?” Many of us who approach God find it so easy to ask things of Him on our own behalf. “God, I really need You to come through for me here. My little girl is hurting right now and I can’t bear it, Lord. I need this job Lord for my family. And so on.” We’re pretty good at doing that, even if it is with honorable requests as Moses had just asked of God – to know Your ways, in order to know You.

But what about entreating the Almighty strongly on behalf of many others? The extended family? The whole department at work? The entire class at school? The whole team you play with, including the opposing side? The body of believers you worship with? That’s a lot harder, isn’t it? And yet, I believe that God appreciates our sincere interest in others.

And how does God respond to Moses? Moses is concerned about his people and God’s people, and God responds to say His presence “shall go with you (singular) and I will give you (singular) rest.” It’s nice that Moses cares about the people, but God only promises to be with him and to give him peace and rest. What does that say to us? What does that say to us when we’re praying for the salvation of others? What does it say to us who may be praying for something with respect to our children – their family, their jobs, their health?

I think the message is clear: keep on praying for others and interceding on their behalf; that says a lot about us to God and He hears it; but what He promises in return is His presence with us and His peace and rest for us. Like the old Greyhound Bus Lines slogan, “Leave the Driving to Us”, we are to leave “the saving” or the “helping” to Him. And as far as whatever He does with respect to others, we can be certain of one thing that will help us with respect to His decisions – He will be present with us and give us rest and peace. I believe understanding that process of how we are to pray and react to God’s decisions on behalf of others is paramount to living a victorious Christian life.

But somehow Moses wasn’t there yet for he continues to push God. Instead of saying “thank you, God”, he comes back at the Almighty once more with the plural, avoiding the singular. “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.” Still more evidence to God that Moses really cares about his people and he’s not in it just for himself.  If God wasn’t to lead the people, then He should not make them go forward for without Him they would perish.

God does not interrupt him. And Moses goes on with his last argument. And in so doing, appeals to God this time on the ‘singular’ level of the conversation on which He was focusing and promising.  “God, how will others know that I have found favor in Your sight,” but then adds the plural aspect because to him it is also about the people, “I and Your people?”  This was a rhetorical question to God; Moses already knew the answer and he tells God.  “Why, the only way for people to know that is for You to go with us.”

Our testimony is based not on what we do, but on God being seen by others to “go with us”. Moses says, “God, that’s what distinguishes us from all the other people on earth.” Wow.  Can’t wait to see how God responds to that.

But get the picture here. Is God with you today? Are you living a life of distinction from others by having God readily event in your life by how you talk and act and work? I pray that each of us reconsider these questions as we study this remarkable relationship between God and his friend, Moses.

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How God & Moses Stayed In Touch

Exodus 33:7-11: Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And it came about, that everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of the tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. And it came about whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

How often have you said to someone or had them say to you, “Let’s stay in touch.” and it never happens? As I was studying this portion of Scripture several thoughts came to mind. If God has anything to say to me or any of His followers on a regular basis, I believe it is this – “Let’s stay in touch.” Jesus, Who had spent three years getting to know His twelve apostles intimately, could say to them over and over as He did to Peter, “Feed me sheep.” And He probably wants to say that to us as well, but I get the feeling that in this day and age, He first needs more of us to simply “Stay in touch” with Him. It is us that have not maintained the relationship that we could have with Him. So, He keeps asking, “Stay in touch.”

When the Israelites were in the desert having fled Egypt, God and Moses had a way of staying in touch. Moses would pitch a tent, which he called the ‘tent of meeting’ [for that is where he met with God] outside the main camp (at a good distance). In fact, anyone who wanted to hear from God through their leader Moses, would go out to the vicinity of this ‘tent of meeting’. Commentator Matthew Henry believes that this was not Moses’ own personal tent for his family, but the tent he used for giving audiences to solve disputes, to give advice, and to hear from God. Chuck Smith suggests this was done outside the camp because God would not live among them in their camp, lest He destroy them out of His recent anger towards them.

Whenever Moses went out to the tent (which seems to have been set up at all times while they were in one place), all the people would go and stand outside the entrance of the tent, fully concentrating on Moses until he entered the tent. And then they had learned that something miraculous would happen – the ‘pillar of cloud’ (the symbol of God’s presence) would come and hover over the entrance of the tent, and God would speak with Moses.

David Guzik suggests that this is Moses leading the people in worship and that the tent was the temporary place of worship as the Israelites had not yet built the tabernacle God had given them detailed instructions for. This was to be the ‘meeting place’ for all to worship in. Clearly the rising of the people to worship whenever the cloud came and settled over the tent indicated that indeed this was a time of showing reverence and for some, adoration, towards God.

But at the same time reading in-between the lines we detect there were two groups of people involved – those that still sought God and those that stayed far away, back inside the camp, inside their own personal tents.

Robert Jamieson sees this account as being mostly focused on Moses being the mediator for the people before God. The comfort of having God dwell among them was removed from them because of their sin, but as Henry points out they were still free to take what action was needed to follow God. And this the people did, for they were now a people eager for reconciliation with God. They too wanted to “stay in touch” with Him.

Near the end of this passage we read that the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. David Guzik says this is to be taken figuratively, that is, Moses did not actually see God’s face but He did hear his voice and felt His presence. That is, they spoke freely and openly with each other. Moses, as author of the text, is trying to convey how simple it was to communicate with God. It is God’s desire that we communicate with Him as a true friend, although He is much more than that. The phrase “face to face” is not deemed to be literal for further down in this chapter as we will soon discover, we read that no man can see God, and live. Throughout scripture, there is considerable reference to the ‘face’ of God and how it can be figuratively revealed to us, but that’s a separate study. Suffice it to say that on this occasion Moses and God spoke intimately as two friends.

The passage closes with reference to Moses’ assistant, Joshua, staying close to this tent of meeting while Moses returned to the camp. David Guzik reminds us that Joshua had become a devotee to God because of Moses’ leadership. His remaining at the tent was either because he was asked to by Moses or he wanted to.  In either case, his purpose for doing so would have been to hear anything else that God may have wanted to say to Israel. Hearing from God and staying in touch with Him was so critical to the lives of Joshua and Moses, and whether to the lives of the Israelites as a whole, whether or not they knew it.

So what do you do to “Stay in touch” with God? Where do you go to speak to Him “face to face”? How do you know He has come to meet with you? Every one of us who wants to hear God speak into our lives would do well to consider our specific answers to these questions.

Sign up to receive free updates. We bring you relevant information from all sorts of sources. Subscribe for free to this blog or follow us by clicking on the appropriate link in the right side bar. And please share this blog with your friends. Also, I’ve read some good books and make some great recommendations for you at http://astore.amazon.com/accorconsu-20  which you can purchase right from there.  Finally, check us out at Accord Consulting.  And while you’re here, why not check out some more of our recent blogs shown in the right hand column.  Ken.

 

It would be great if you would share your thoughts or questions on this blog in the comments section below or on social media.