Scripture: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 (NKJV)
1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of
Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of
Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all
the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the South, and the plain of the
Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said
to him, “This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with
your eyes, but you shall not cross 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 a valley in the land of Moab,
opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. 7 Moses was one
hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his
natural vigor diminished. 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 ended.
9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had
laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the
LORD had commanded Moses. 10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a
prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and
wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh,
before all his servants, and in all his land, 12 and by all that mighty power
and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Devotion
“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord….” (Rev. 14:13). In spite of the
great wonders done through Moses, he could not avoid death. He was still a
sinner, even though he was a sinner through whom God worked mighty things.
Moses died because God’s Word is true and His promises are a clear testimony
for all man. One cannot defy God without consequence. “Then the Lord spoke to
Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of
the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the
land which I have given them.’” (Num. 20:12).
However, Moses was certainly the Lord’s servant, and He was with him. Moses was
not redeemed because of his own righteousness, but because of the Lord’s mercy.
The significance of this is shown even more by the fact that no greater servant
would come until the Son of God came to manifest the Lord’s mercy. Moses
brought the Law of God, but Jesus Christ brought the fulfillment of the Law,
and the Gospel of forgiveness, which made Him greater than Moses. He was
without sin, so even though He also died according to the promises of God, He
laid His life down freely to pay the sacrifice that would take away the sins of
the world.
We pray: Lord God, forgive us for our sins, with which we have offended You and
justly deserve Your punishment; but keep us according to Your boundless mercy,
which You have given us in Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. These daily devotions are authored by the bishop, pastors, and
deacons of the diocese. Daily posts are provided by The Reverend Jeffrey A.
Ahonen.
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