30. MOSES

"His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated"

Aim

To show that we should not grumble and complain, but be thankful for the blessings God gives us. God wants us to obey Him and have faith and trust in Him.

Synopsis

Moses was born to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land. However, we have seen from our last lesson that God would not allow Moses to lead Israel into the land because he had not given Him the glory when the water came forth from the rock at Kadesh. Apart from this, Moses was a true and faithful servant of God. "There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses" (Deut. 34:10). He asked nothing for himself, but wanted only to see God's promises to Israel fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 30 and 34

THE FINAL MESSAGE OF MOSES TO ISRAEL: Deut. 29, 30 and 31

Moses was 120 years old and God had told him that the end of his life was near. He pleaded with God to let him go into the Promised Land, but he was only allowed to see it from the top of Mt Nebo, in the land of Moab (Num. 27:12-14; Deut 32:49). Of those who came out of Egypt (that is, of the "men of war" Numb. 14:29; Deut 2:16) only Joshua and Caleb would enter the Promised Land. The rest had died in the wilderness. Joshua would lead their children, now grown up, into the land itself (Deut. 1:34-39; 3:23-28).

Israel had come to the border of Canaan and God commanded Moses to make a covenant there with this new generation. "Ye stand this day all of you before Yahweh your God", said Moses, "that thou shouldest enter into covenant with Yahweh thy God... that He may establish thee today for a people unto Himself and that He may be unto thee a God, as He hath said unto thee, and as He hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (Deut. 29:10-13). If they lived in obedience to God's commandments He would bless them, but if they disobeyed, many curses would come upon them. "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing'', Moses told them, "Therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love Yahweh thy God arid obey His voice" (Deut. 30:19-20).

While the people stood there, Moses told them that he was not allowed to go over Jordan with them. Yet God would not desert them now. He would go over before them and destroy the nations of Canaan. Joshua was the new leader chosen by God. In the presence of all Israel Moses encouraged him: "Be strong and of a good courage, for thou must go with this people unto the land which Yahweh hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And Yahweh, He it is that doth go before thee ...He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee..." (Deut. 31:1-8).

Moses wrote in a book all the law which God had given him. This was to be kept by the priests and read to the people every seven years, at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles (Deut. 31:9-13, 26). This was to remind them of the covenant between them and God. God told Moses to write a song and teach it to Israel, so that they would more easily remember the wonderful things that He had done for their nation (Deut. 231:19; 32:46-47). Not only must the people listen carefully to God's Law and obey it, but they must teach it diligently to their children every day of their lives, so that they would learn to fear and honour Him (Deut. 6:6-7).

THE DEATH OF MOSES-A NEW LEADER APPOINTED: Deut 34

The other great leaders of Israel - Aaron the High Priest, and Miriam, a prophetess - had died in the fortieth year of Israel's wanderings. Now, at the end of that same year, the time had come for Moses to die too. They all sleep in their graves waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will raise them from the dead. (Refer to Sunday School Instructor Question No. 132).

Although Moses was 120 years old his body had not grown feeble, nor had his eyes grown dim, but his work was finished. God commanded him to go to Mt Nebo and from that high mountain he could see the Promised Land stretched out before him. God said, "I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither" (vv 1-4). "So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab" and he was buried in a valley by an angel but "no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day" (vv 5-6). When the Israelites learned that Moses was dead, they wept and mourned for thirty days.

Like many others, Moses "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off' (Heb. 11:13). The fact that he did not tread on the soil of the land in his own lifetime was not really important. He died in confidence of his future inheritance and glory.

God had appointed Eleazar, Aaron's son to be the new High Priest and now Israel were to look to their new leader, Joshua (v9), to show them what they were to do.

LESSON FOR US

Moses was a very meek and humble man. Throughout his life he endured with patience the trials and sufferings that came upon him (Num. 12:3). The life of the great prophet can teach us many lessons. When the people, and even his own family, envied him and spoke against him, he did not lose his temper (except once, see Lesson 4), but spoke quietly and wisely, leaving it to God to settle his problems. God is not pleased when we quarrel. He wants us to be thoughtful and gentle, not entering into argument and saying words for which we will be sorry. We should learn the lesson of James 1:19-20.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

MOSES WAS LIKE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN MANY WAYS

Deuteronomy 34:10 says, "and there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses", but God had said, "I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in his mouth" (Deut. 18:18). The Lord Jesus Christ was the one spoken of here. The apostle Peter declares this in Acts 3:20-22. He was greater than Moses and all the prophets.

1. € Moses led the people of God as a good shepherd, caring for all their needs.

€ Jesus was the Good Shepherd who even gave his life for his sheep (John 10:11).

2. € Moses was a meek man (Num.12:3). He knew that no one was able to lead so many people without help from God.

€ Jesus was the meekest of all men (Matt. 11:29)

3. € Moses pleaded with God many times to forgive the people (Num. 14:19).

€ Jesus gave his life that we might receive forgiveness of sins forever (Acts 5:31).

4. € God spoke to Israel through Moses who was their teacher (Exod. 24:12)

€ God spoke to the people through His Son (Heb. 1:2; John 3:34; 14:10).

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. How old was Moses when he spoke his last message to the people of Israel?

2. Why did God tell Moses to write a song and teach it to Israel?

3. What did Moses write in a book?

4. How often were the people to listen to the words in the book that Moses wrote before he died?

5. What did Moses see from Mount Nebo?

6. Where is Moses buried?

7. When will Moses awake and come out of the grave?

8. Who was chosen to lead the children of Israel after Moses died?

Detailed Answers

1. Moses wrote a book.

1. 1. What was in the book?

   2. How often were the people to hear the words of the book?

   3. Why was it important for them to teach all these words to their children?

2. Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land.

1. Who was the new leader and how did Moses encourage him before all the people?

2. What was unusual about Moses' death?

3. Think about the lessons you have learned from the life of Moses. Can you tell how we can be like this great man?

Additional Answers

4. Moses was a great prophet like unto Jesus Christ.

1. Compare the work of Moses and his character with that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. How will God reward Moses' faith and obedience and when will this be?