Daily Bible Reading Thursday 9th November 2023
by William Moody
Deuteronomy 34
The Death of Moses
34:1 Then 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 all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 And the LORD said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” 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 the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that 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 for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
(ESV)
As Moses’s death is approached, God gives him the privilege of seeing the Promised Land (v1-3). He is being reminded of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (v4).
This is all a reminder of God’s wonderful faithfulness to His people, and faithfulness despite our many sins and failings.
Moses’ death came while he was still so full of life (v5-7). This reminds us that the consequence of sin in a believer’s life can still be very serious. Sin is never to be trifled with but always to be feared.
Moses is rightly remembered and mourned over for a month (v8). It is good to take time to thankfully remember those who have passed and the lessons we can learn from their lives.
As we consider the summary of Moses’ life and ministry (v10-12), Joshua had an amazing act to follow. Moses in many ways was a man without equal. But Joshua is ready as the Spirit of God is upon him to give the wisdom and grace he needed (v9). That same Holy Spirit can equip you and I for service today!
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