Deuteronomy 34:5-7 ,10-12 “ 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; and no one knows his burial place to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not dim, nor was his vigor lost…
10 And there has not arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 no one like him in all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and all his servants and all his land, 12 and in all the great power and awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel .
Introduction
We have reached the end of the Pentateuch after more than three years.
After the Pentateuch was finished writing, these five books became the Bible of the Israelites for many years. They called these five books “Torah” which means the law.
For some Jewish religious sects, the sacred writings only include the first five books of the Bible. Muslims also believe this is the case.
By the time of Jesus and the apostles, the Bible consisted only of the Old Testament and was divided into three main parts: “The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms”
Luke 24.44 “ And he said to them, These are the words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. ”
Although sometimes only the law and the prophets: Matthew 5:17 “ Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill. ”
The Pentateuch is very important for the church, because there we see God revealed in his majesty, power, authority and the plan of Salvation. As Jesus said, the scriptures bear witness to Him.
The entire sacrificial system points to the work of salvation that Christ was to do fifteen hundred years after the Pentateuch was written.
Moses
He is one of the most important figures for the Israelites throughout their history, and they still remember him today.
First 40 years
Moses was born during a period of great affliction for the Israelite people; his life was threatened by the Pharaoh’s edict.
But his mother had faith that God had glorious purposes for him. Hebrews 11:23 “ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid by his parents for three months, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s decree. ”
For the first forty years of his life he was raised by the royalty of Egypt, being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
But God’s call to Moses was stronger because he rejected this earthly privilege. Hebrews 11:24-25 “ By faith Moses, when he had come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. ”
Second 40 years
Although Moses was not ashamed of his Israelite origins, and felt called to rescue his people, because of his position and royal upbringing he had a haughty and volatile character. He needed to be molded by God.
Because he killed an Egyptian and was discovered by his own Israelite brothers, he had to flee to the land of Midian, where he lived like a nobody.
After being a prince, he became a lonely shepherd in the desert.
For forty years he lived this way until God called him from a burning bush.
Third 40 years
When God called him, Moses no longer had that proud and angry character, he was meek and patient. God himself testifies to his meekness.
Numbers 12:3 “ Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all the men who were on the earth. ” It is necessary to go through the desert so that our character is molded to God’s purpose.
However, Moses still had to struggle with his inner man. We see this character brought out with the golden calf. Exodus 32:19 “ And it came to pass, when he came into the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing, that Moses’ anger was kindled, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. ”
His character was what caused Moses not to enter the promised land.
The Sin of Moses
We see the character problems that Moses had to face, first when he killed the Egyptian, then when he broke the tablets of the law that God had written.
Now with anger and disobedience.
Numbers 20:8–12 (NLT)
“ 8 Take the staff, and gather the congregation together, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes; and it will yield its water, and you shall bring out water for them out of the rock, and give the congregation and their beasts to drink.” 9 Then Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as He commanded him.
10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Should we bring water out of this rock for you?” 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; and much water came out, and the congregation and their cattle drank. 12 Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. ”
This was a solemn act in which Moses was to sanctify God before the people, but his anger was so great that he struck the rock in anger while he rebuked the people for their rebellion. God kept his promise to give water but disapproved of Moses’ disobedience.
It seems that God’s punishment was very severe in prohibiting him from entering the promised land for this moment of weakness.
However, let us remember that we cannot question God. Romans 9:20 “ But who are you, O man, that you should argue with God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? ”
Secondly, Moses had an extremely important and privileged position before God, being called the only prophet who spoke with God face to face. Deuteronomy 34:10 “ And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face; ”
With great privilege comes great responsibility. The higher your position before God, the more responsible you are for your actions. Luke 12:48 “ But he who unawares has committed acts worthy of stripes will be beaten with few stripes. For to whom much is given, much will be required, and to whom much is entrusted, much will be asked. ”
We pastors must conduct ourselves with great prudence and fear, because we will be evaluated more severely.
Hebrews 13:17 “ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves unto them: for they keep watch over your souls, as those that must give account; that they may do it with joy, and not with grumble: for that would be of no profit to you. ”
James 3:1 “ My brothers, do not let many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive a greater condemnation. ”
Conclusion
Although Moses was not able to enter the promised land, we should not regret that, because Moses would meet his Father in a better place, whether or not he entered the promised land was irrelevant compared to the glory he would enjoy.
God honored Moses until the day of his death, he was not buried by men but by God himself: Deuteronomy 34:6 “ And he buried him (God) in the valley, in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; and no one knows the place of his burial to this day. ”
He died with strength and vigor: Deuteronomy 34:7 “ Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eyes were not dim, nor did his vigor fail. ” At that age he went up to Mount Nebo.
Some say that after this, Moses was resurrected, but the Bible never mentions him being resurrected. Even in Jude it mentions that the angel who came to bury him confronted Satan over his body. Jude 1:9 “ But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about Moses’ body, he did not presume to bring a blasphemous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you. ””
God did not want the Israelites to have the body or the tomb of Moses so that they would not idolize or venerate him, as happened later in the church.
Polycarp was one of the apostolic fathers martyred for the gospel, he said these words: “Eighty-six years have I served Him, and He has done nothing wrong to me: how can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”
The brothers esteemed him so much that they invented miraculous acts during his martyrdom and kept personal belongings as relics, claiming that he received miracles through them.
There have been great men of God whom we deeply thank for their dedication, because through their work we were able to hear the message of the gospel.
However, in everything, all glory goes to God alone.