Deuteronomy 34 Devotional
by Pastor Mark Hudson
There are times when I am reading the Bible that I would love to be right beside the main character and able to speak his/her language. This would be one of those moments. Moses, the greatest of all Old Testament prophets, dominates the first five books of the Old Testament. He lived his life in three different 40 years periods. The first 40 in Pharaoh’s home. The second 40 in Midian raising sheep. The last 40 wandering in the wilderness, leading rebellious people as he taught them, wrote, and heard their complaining. Moses’ life was not a life of ease.
What God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would soon be realized. Moses knows he cannot go into the land. So, Moses hikes up to Mt. Nebo, part of the Pisgah range. Nebo, being the more specific name, possibly is the meaning. Either Moses is supernaturally able to see the entire land or more likely, he sees a tiny portion of the land but looks in the direction of the area the author writes. Clearly, someone is editing this part of the book since Moses cannot write this section.
What did that mean to Moses? Moses courageously rebuked Pharaoh and followed God by leading Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He participated in the miracle of crossing the Red Sea. He spent his life pouring over the manuscripts he was writing. He received the 10 commandments from God. Moses led Israel for 40 difficult years in the wilderness. Moses led Israel right up to the edge of the promised land. He was not allowed to go in to the Promised Land. All adults 20 years and older (save Caleb and Joshua) were also prevented from entering the Promised Land. Moses disobeyed God in the incident recorded for us in Numbers 20. But now he sees the land, the rivers, the valleys, the lush green plains. What is he feeling? This is the land promised to the patriarchs that he wrote about. What joy Moses must be experiencing. I wonder if he had come to terms with only seeing it and was ready to die and let Joshua do the rest? I wonder if he was filled with joy seeing what soon would take place.
So many promises were present in that moment. Behind him, Moses was leading a great multitude that was a fulfilment of the promise of “so shall your offspring be” in Gen 15:5. The land promised in Gen 17:8 (and other places) was before Moses. He saw with his own eyes God’s faithful fulfillment of God’s own word. That must have been a momentous time for Moses.
Moses died there. Buried by God, Joshua, or who knows (maybe Michael in Jude 1:9)? He was still strong and could have continued on for years due to manna or God’s sustaining power and blessing. Whatever happened there, Joshua was the new leader. Joshua is described as “full of the spirit of wisdom” in v. 9 because Moses had laid his hands on him. But this chapter is not yet ready to say good-by to Moses.
According to v. 10, there is no one like Moses. God knew him face to face or in Numbers 12:8, “mouth to mouth. This describes how God knew Moses not how Moses knew God. He did signs and wonders in Egypt, to Pharaoh, his servants and to all his land “and for all the mighty power and all the great deed of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. This sounds like Acts in the N.T. describing the ministry of the Lord Jesus.
The relationship that God had with Moses was unique, close, and produced blessings for many. It is one thing for a person to say they are close to God. But God is saying He is close to Moses in a way that He was not close to anyone else. That includes Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. That includes Enoch who “walked with God” in Genesis 5:24. This is especially intriguing since Moses murdered an Egyptian (Ex 2:12). He disobeyed God in such a clear and defiant way that God prevented Moses from entering the land even though Moses was physically able to go in. Yet, for all that, God loved Moses deeply.
This is something I hope you think carefully about. God loved Moses. God loves people. God loves you. I don’t know quite what to do with the fact that God loves me. Why does He love us? The best answer is Deut 7:7, “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but qit is because the LORD loves you. . . .” In other words, the Lord loves you because He loves you. That about brings me to tears. There is no reason outside of God for Him to love us. No need, no loneliness, no looking for someone to complete Him. He overflows with love. He is an eternal fountain of love, giving, gathering in, welcoming, embracing, and improving all He loves. His love is more than I can comprehend.
No matter how many children or grandchildren you may have, you can love them all. I do not enjoy my dog to be loved. The best part of having a dog is to love the dog. The best part of being married to my lovely wife is that I get to love her. Yet in all the people or animals I love, I don’t run out of love but I do get something from them. God gets nor needs nothing from our love yet He loves us eternally and adopts us as His children. This will be a growing, deepening, and overwhelming view of God that will bring us eternal joy in heaven.
Lord, we easily confess that we are sinners. Yet it is a challenge, at least for this sinner, to accept Your love for me. It just doesn’t make sense that You would love so intensely. Why send Your perfect Son for us? Why forgive us? We call us out of darkness? Remind us, yes cause us, to slow down and drink in Your love and marinate our dry souls in Your eternal love. In the name of the Son of Your love. Amen.