What final words would you speak if you knew you were about to die? When you think about someone who is about to die what do you picture in your mind? Do think of an old frail person with illness who is too weak to speak and just slips into death? This was not Moses at the end. In Deuteronomy chapters 33 and 34 the end of Moses’ leadership in Israel arrives. Mouses was going to die and be gathered to his people but “although [he] was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye [were] not dim, nor his vigor abated.” (Deuteronomy 34:7) Moses was still fully alive and able to speak to the people of Israel at the time of His death.
In his final words Moses gives a blessing to the Israelites. He acknowledges that God chose Israel for His own. Moses gave individual blessings for each tribes of Israel. Does this blessing foreshadow the future deeds of each tribe? I remember the blessings Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made to their sons. which recognized them for what they did and told of what their future would be. What would I say as my final words at the time of my death? Would I encourage others to place their faith, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ? Is a life summed up by your final thoughts and words? When life is over what does a person cling to? I have often wondered how people can go through life without Jesus Christ as their hope for a future and it amazes me even more to think about people dying with out that hope in their lives. I think that this is a wake up call to every christian to remember that people need to know that God loved them enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross for their sins. Will you go out an proclaim that?
The death of Moses comes in Deuteronomy chapter 34 where he dies on Mount Nebo. Before Moses dies God shows him the promised land which was promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is noteworthy that in verse 6 that Moses’ burial location is unknown. If people knew where Moses was buried would that become an idol where God’s servant is worshiped as greater than God? After Moses’ death “Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34:9)
I love how Deuteronomy closes with three verses that describe Moses’ leadership and relationship with God. Moses was the only person whom God spoke face to face with. That is amazing to think about speaking to God face to face. My life feels very insignificant after reading about Moses but I remember that Hebrews talks about someone greater than Moses who was more faithful in all of God’s house. Moses’ was a servant but Jesus is the Son of God. He died for me on the cross. When I think about Jesus Christ my awe of Moses’ fades away because Jesus Christ is so much more than Moses. Jesus Christ is the one whom we can place our faith, trust, and hope for our futures. Where do you place your faith, trust, and hope? I pray that you will place it all upon Jesus Christ because when your time to die arrives you want your legacy to be fixed upon a true hope that will not falter.
