Deuteronomy 34:1-12
1Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, 2all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. 4The LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” 5Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD’S command. 6He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. 7Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. 8The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended. 9Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. 11He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, 12and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
The LORD brings victories to Israel. One of the areas that they were victorious was the land just east of the Jordan River. The Reubenites and the Gadites had a great number of cattle, and they thought that the land was perfect for raising cattle. So, they, along with the half tribe of Manasseh, make a request to Moses that instead of settling in the Promised Land, they be allowed to settle in the Transjordan. Moses grants this request, as long as they still send their men across the Jordan along with their brethren to help with the conquest of the land.
Towards the end of his role as the leader of Israel, the LORD reminds Moses that although he will be able to look upon the Promised Land, he will not be allowed to enter it. So, Moses asks the LORD to appoint a new leader who will take the people into Canaan, and the LORD designates Joshua. They hold an official ceremony for the change of leadership in front of all the people.
The book of Deuteronomy is basically a series of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites to prepare for their entrance into the Promised Land. It includes the reiteration of the Law, the covenant with the LORD, love and obedience and the leadership transition.
The first four chapters give the historical review of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to Moab and highlights God’s faithfulness and the people’s past disobedience.
Chapters 5-26 reiterate the Law – The Ten Commandments, various civil and religious laws and instructions for worship and daily life.
In Chapters 27-30 Moses outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience and emphasizes the importance of following God’s laws.
The final four chapters covers Moses’ farewell and death.
Moses is considered the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. His actions and teachings are referenced throughout the Old Testament. He also makes an appearance in the gospels, appearing with Elijah to meet with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, to discuss the upcoming crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
In Jude 1:9, there is an interesting reference to the Jewish legend about Satan and the archangel Michael contending regarding the body of Moses. The legend has it that Satan wanted to find and use the body of Moses to tempt Israel into sinning and Michael prevented this.
In Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses prophesies that someday, the LORD is going to raise up a prophet like Moses from the Jews. Many scholars believe that Moses is pointing to Jesus Christ. There are some well-known parallels between Moses and Jesus.
They were both born at time when there was a royal decree to kill all the male infants but were saved. Moses fled out of Egypt to escape being captured, while Jesus lived in Egypt for a time to escape King Herod.
Moses delivered the Law from God at Mount Sinai. Jesus preached about the Law in the Sermon on the Mount.
Moses performed many miracles through God. Jesus performed many signs and miracles.
Moses acted as an intercessor between God and the Israelites, pleading on their behalf. Jesus acts as the mediator and intercessor between God and humanity.
Moses delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. Jesus delivers believers from the bondage of sin and leads them to eternal life.
The narrative about Moses and the Exodus is the central story of the Old Testament. Everything that comes before it leads to Exodus, and everything that comes after looks back at what God did for the Israelites. Likewise, the narrative about the cross and resurrection of Christ is the central story of the New Testament. Everything leading up to it points to it, while everything that comes after looks back on it.
About 3,500 years ago, God heard the need of His people and sent Moses to deliver them out of slavery. Two thousand years ago, God sent Jesus Christ to deliver humanity so that we can be freed from slavery to sin.
Through the death on the cross, Jesus Christ gave us the path to forgiveness and freedom from sin. All one has to do is to repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and not only forgiveness is granted, but eternal life with the Lord is also assured. We will become sons and daughters of God. This is what we celebrate during the Advent season, which is right upon us.
There are many around us who are still living in darkness and need to accept Jesus into their hearts. God so loved Israel that He sent Moses to them. God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to us. The fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Savior of the world is the good news that we not only need to appreciate and celebrate, but to spread to those who need to hear it.
(the above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano during our worship of November 24, 2024.)
Japanese Congregational Church 