DEUTERONOMY LESSON 38
We will begin this lesson in Deuteronomy 34:1 "And Moses went up
from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of
Pisgah, that [is] over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all
the land of Gilead, unto Dan,"
God had told Moses to go up to the top of this mountain, so he
could see that God had truly brought them to the land of promise. This
is God's way of telling Moses, well done. He has led these people 40
years, and now, his work is over. It was a super-natural view of the
entire land. He opens the window at one end, and Moses turns his
head, and God reveals to him each tribe's land.
Deuteronomy 34:2 "And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and
Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,"
The utmost sea is the Mediterranean Sea. Notice, again, the two
portions of land for Joseph's son's Ephraim's and Manasseh's tribes.
Deuteronomy 34:3 "And the south, and the plain of the valley of
Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar."
Jericho will be the first city they enter. This valley extends
from the Dead Sea to Jericho. The Jordan river flows through this.
Deuteronomy 34:4 "And the LORD said unto him, This [is] the land
which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will
give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see [it] with thine eyes,
but thou shalt not go over thither."
No human eye in the natural could see this far. God has greatly
increased his sight, so that Moses could see this land of promise. We
see the reminder that, this is that land that was first promised to
Abraham and his seed. The three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
are mentioned here, because God specifically promised this land to
their descendents. Moses will not be allowed to go over, because of
striking the Rock, instead of speaking to it, as God had commanded
him.
Deuteronomy 34:5 "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in
the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD."
Moses died on the top of the mountain at the age of 120 years.
The LORD told him he would die here, and he did.
Deuteronomy 34:6 "And he buried him in a valley in the land of
Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto
this day."
It appears, that God buried Moses. There is no evidence of a
burying place, that men have found. God, possibly, hid his body, and
took Moses home with Him to heaven. Some people believe that Moses did
not go the way of the grave, but went directly to heaven, as did
Elijah and Enoch. The Scripture, here, says he was buried, however. We
do not know for sure what happened, except what the Scriptures say.
The main reason God would not let them find the grave of Moses, was
because they might begin to worship him.
Deuteronomy 34:7 "And Moses [was] an hundred and twenty years
old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated."
Moses had lived in divine health. His eyes were as good as they
had been in his youth. It seemed, he was still strong enough to climb
this tallest mountain to meet with God. He still had his strength.
Deuteronomy 34:8 "And the children of Israel wept for Moses in
the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping [and] mourning
for Moses were ended."
This is the same amount of time the people mourned for Aaron. He
had been their leader for forty years.
Deuteronomy 34:9 "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the
spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the
children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded
Moses."
The anointing of Moses had transferred to Joshua, when Moses laid
his hands on him. The anointing for the ministry is confirmed by the
laying on of hands. Moses had already informed the people, who the
choice of the LORD was, to follow him as their leader. At the death of
Moses, they accept Joshua to lead them.
Deuteronomy 34:10 "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel
like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,"
Moses was a special prophet of God. He met with God. He was on
the mountain two different times 40 days and nights with the presence
of God. He asked God to let him see Him, and God passed by and let him
see His back side. He was in the presence of the Light of the world,
and when he came down the mountain, his head shone so brightly there
had to be a veil over his head to keep from blinding the people. He
was allowed closer to the presence of God than any other living
person.
Deuteronomy 34:11 "In all the signs and the wonders, which the
LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his
servants, and to all his land,"
The signs and wonders God did at the request of Moses far
surpassed any other prophet. Only the miracles of Jesus were greater.
God sent ten plagues on Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the people
go. The Red Sea parted at the prayer of Moses. God had given him a
staff to do mighty miracles with. Over and over, God wrought mighty
miracles through Moses.
Deuteronomy 34:12 "And in all that mighty hand, and in all the
great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel."
God had placed in the hand of Moses, great power. Moses was God's
ambassador upon the earth. In fact, Moses was a very meek man. His
greatness lay in his fellowship with God. He went to God with
everything. The only time he ever disobeyed God was at Meribah. The
people had angered him, so that he acted in anger in striking the
Rock. God sent Moses to deliver Israel from one of the mightiest
armies in the world. God's power operating through Moses, made him one
of the most powerful men who ever lived.
The lesson we need to take from this, is the fact that our
ability to serve God is not in ourselves. God working through us makes
us mighty servants of God. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you on this
book. May God richly bless you in the study of His Word.
Your Friend in Christ,
Louise Haney
Deuteronomy 38 Questions
1. Where did Moses go to see the promised land?
2. This is God's way of telling Moses ________ ________.
3. Moses led them ________ years.
4. What is the utmost sea spoken of here?
5. Who were Joseph's two sons?
6. What will be the first city they enter?
7. How far does this valley extend?
8. What were the names of the three patriarchs?
9. What had God done to Moses, so he could see the promised land?
10. Why will Moses not be allowed to enter the promised land?
11. Where did Moses die?
12. How old was Moses, when he died?
13. Who buried Moses?
14. What is a possibility, that is not mentioned in the Bible, about
Moses' death?
15. Why would God not let them find Moses' grave?
16. What was unusual about Moses at the time of his death?
17. How long did the children of Israel mourn Moses' death?
18. Who took over in Moses' place?
19. What does the Bible say, he was full of, that helped him minister?
20. How had he received this?
21. Did the people accept Joshua as their leader?
22. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 10.
23. When were some special times that Moses met with God privately?
24. Only the miracles of ___________ were greater than Moses'.
25. The Red Sea parted at the prayer of _________.
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