As we are coming to the end of the wilderness wanderings and the children of Israel are about to enter into Canaan, it is inevitable that we are coming to the end of Moses’ life as well. When God had instructed Moses to speak to the rock so that water would come out, he went and struck it instead, God gave the sentence that he would not be able to lead the children of Israel into Canaan.

Numbers 20:12
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

This was such a great punishment for Moses. Why? Because he had been leading them now for forty years. He had been bearing long with them through all their murmurings and rebellious behaviour. And at the end he would not be the one to lead them into the land that had been promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And so with Canaan right before their eyes, his mortality is now in clear view as well.

Deuteronomy 3:24-27
24 O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. 27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

• Moses so desperately wants to go over, but God is firm in the sentence that He gave to his disobedience. He would not lead them over into the good land.

However, Moses’ work was not yet done. First he would have to appoint a new leadership.

• Numbers 27:18-20
  18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. 20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
• God would call Joshua to succeed Moses in the role of the leader of the children of Israel. It was important that Moses lay his hand on him and give him a charge in front of everyone so that their confidence in Joshua as their leader might be established.

Secondly, Moses would repeat the history of the Israelites to those that were standing before him after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. And it wasn’t just the history of the Israelites but also the ten commandments, the law that was spoken from mount Sinai.

• Most of those that were alive now were twenty years old or younger when the law of God was first given to the Israelites and were too young to remember too much of the history.
• Joshua and Caleb were the only aged people that would go over to inherit Canaan as they were the only two spies that had been faithful to God.
• It’s interesting to note also that the book of Deuteronomy, the meaning of the book is “second law” or “repeated law.”
• The repeat of all this history was a reminder and also a warning to continue to be faithful to God.

Exodus 20 is where the 10 commandments are famously found. However, it is repeated almost verbatim in Deuteronomy 5.

• Deuteronomy 5:1-4
  1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire.
• Moses is reminding them to keep it and do it. God made a covenant with them and they all agreed and enter into covenant with God. You can read the commandments just below this passage.
• But how serious was God about His covenant?
• Deuteronomy 7:7-9
  7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.
• God was a covenant keeping God. He made this promise to their fathers – to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. They had been rebellious and walked away from God so much but yet He was always true to His promise. He had always kept His side of the agreement.
• God made an agreement and a promise with Abraham back in Genesis. What was it?
  • Genesis 15:13-14
    13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
  • This was a prophecy of the children of Israel and Egypt and the exodus. God held up His end of the bargain. He brought them out with great substance!
• So Moses is reminding the children of Israel to keep the covenant that they made with God. If they do their part, God would faithfully do His part as well.
• Today, we don’t need to worry about the promises in the Bible. His word is faithful and true. God is a covenant keeping God. The problem is that we, too often, are found unfaithful. We are the ones who keep breaking the promises that we make to God. We are the ones that turn our backs on God because of the lusts of our flesh and the desires for the world.

However, Moses was not done yet. He shows them the sort of land that they are inheriting. This land was something amazing!

• Deuteronomy 8:7-9
  7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
• Wheat: the top three producers of wheat today are China, India and Russia.
• Barley: the top four producers of barley today are Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine.
• Vines: the top three producers of wine today are Italy, France and Spain.
• Fig trees: the top three producers of figs today are Turkey, Spain and Greece.
• Pomegranates: the data is not so clear on this fruit.
• Olive oil: most of the world’s supply of olive oil comes from the Mediterranean basin. The Mediterranean basin are the countries that are on the coast of the Mediterranean sea.
• Honey: top three honey producers in the world today are China, European Union and Turkey.
• Why all these statistics? You see, the land of Canaan would produce all of this. This is how fertile this land was. This is how amazing the land of Canaan was and how much it was blessed by God.
• And a reminder, this is the land that God is about to give to the Israelites!
• But there’s more!
• Deuteronomy 11:10-12
  10 For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs: 11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: 12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
• This land was special! It drank the water of heaven. God cared for this land and looked upon it all year round!
• Entering into this covenant with God resulted in such a great blessing to the Israelites. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

But Moses isn’t done. He gives them warning.

• Deuteronomy 11:13-15
  13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.
• If they would remain faithful, if they would obey and love God and serve Him with all their hearts, He would take care of them. He would continue to be with them and bless them. It was a promise that came with a condition.
• But if they weren’t faithful and would not hold up to their end of the bargain, then what would happen?
• Deuteronomy 11:16-17
  16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; 17 And then the LORD’s wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
• If they were not faithful and choose other gods and worship them, then God would not be faithful to them either. He would close the doors of heaven and there would be no rain.
• I think it is obvious today what happened. If we look at Palestine is today, that was where the land of Canaan was. We can’t imagine the fertility of the land that is described in the Bible. It’s just all brown and a desert.
• You see, God does not punish us because we don’t worship Him. When we enter into a covenant relationship with God, there are blessings that come in its train. God pours out blessings upon us because of His great love for us. But when we choose someone else to serve and worship, then those blessings reserved for the faithful are taken away.
• Just like the protecting care that God had on the Israelites as they journeyed through the desert. They were kept from much harm and danger. But when their murmuring got to the point that it was outright doubt and disbelief, God removed that protection and hedge about them and the fiery serpents came out to bite them.

What was the conclusion to this reminder of the covenant that God made with the Israelite’s that they agreed to?

• Deuteronomy 26:18-19
  18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; 19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.
• If they would be faithful, God would set them high above all the other nations around them. He would make them a holy people and bless them tremendously!

But even then, Moses is still not done. This book of Deuteronomy is a clear message to the Israelites just before they enter Canaan. And remember, it is a reminder to us who are at the borders of the heavenly Canaan as well. What does Moses end with?

• Deuteronomy 28:1-2
  1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
• If they would be faithful, if they would observe to do all the commandments, then God would pour out so many blessings on them.
• From verse 3-13 all those blessings are listed out.
• Deuteronomy 28:15
  But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
• However, if they were not faithful, then all these curses would be poured upon them.
• And from verse 16-68, all these curses are detailed as well.
• Moses was warning them as a faithful parent would warn their children just before they depart, never to be seen again.
• And then finally, we read:
  • Deuteronomy 30:15-16
    15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
• The children of Israel had seen how God had blessed them so much in the wilderness. They had come to the borders of Canaan and sent 12 spies to spy out the land for forty days. They had come back with fruit that was glorious to behold. God had blessed them so much. And so Moses finally exhorts them one last time to faithfulness.

I think if we were to take some time to think about our own lives, we would see clearly the blessings of God upon each of our lives. We would see how much He loves us and desires the best for us. And this would deepen our love for Him and have a greater appreciation of all that He has done for us. This would lead to a greater faithfulness back to Him as well. I think too many of us forget God’s blessings, forget all the benefits that He has granted to us. May we be careful to meditate and ponder on His goodness.

At the end of Deuteronomy, when Moses is done exhorting the children of Israel, what happens next?

• Deuteronomy 34:1-4
  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, 2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, 3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. 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.
• Moses goes up to mount Pisgah and God shows him all the land of Canaan. He is able to see the land that the children of Israel would inherit. He would see one last time the goodness of God to His children.
• God would be true to His word. Moses would not enter into earthly Canaan. Even though Moses was faithful, yet he had allowed one small sin, such a small instance of letting go of God, to mar his record. And so the loving God would mingle with his love and mercy His justice also.
• Deuteronomy 34:5-7
  5 So 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 a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
• Moses would die alone on mount Pisgah. His place of death not revealed so no one would come and worship at the place where he was buried.
• The Bible says that his eye was not dim or his natural force abated. He was still a strong man. And was it not for the judgment of God, he would have probably lived much longer.

Though God is a merciful God, He must also judge as well.

• Exodus 34:7
  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
• We see this at the cross. God loved the world, but it did not excuse the transgression of sin which required death. Jesus would pay that penalty whilst at the same time showing mercy to the sinner.
• We see this in the life of Moses. Not that he died for the sins of the world – absolutely not! But we see justice and mercy coming together.
• Justice – he would pay for that sin of disobedience. He would not be allowed to lead the children into the land of Canaan, the land of promise.
• However, God would still show him mercy by resurrecting him and bringing him to heaven. How do we know that?
  • Jude 1:9
    Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
  • The devil was contending with Jesus about the body of Moses because God was about to resurrect him!
• We know also that Moses was resurrected because of the encounter that Jesus had at the mount of transfiguration.
  • Luke 9:28-31
    28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
  • Moses, along with Elijah, would appear to comfort Jesus about the impending fate that He was facing. The trial at the cross.
• Though Moses died on mount Pisgah alone, God would resurrect him and allow him to enter into heavenly Canaan.
• Deuteronomy 34:10-12
  10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 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, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.
• There was none that would arise that would be like Moses. None that would know God like Moses did. None that would speak to God face to face.

Upon hearing of the death of Moses, how did the children of Israel react?

• 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.
• They would mourn for Moses for thirty days!
• It was only as his death, only when he was finally absent from them permanently, that the children of Israel would feel their loss. And no amount of remorse would bring him back. They would now have to move on without him. Without his prayers for them, without his counsel and without his visible leadership.

Let us be careful to treasure the leaders that we have in our midst. To appreciate those whom God has blessed us with. At times we will be tempted to murmur and complain against them. But God places people in our paths always for our benefit, for our help and for our guidance. To fight against the guidance of God in our lives through the people that He paces in our path only hurts us and only disadvantages ourselves. May God help us always to be thankful and to remember the goodness of God to us through the wise counsels of our friends and leaders.