Death And Burial Of Moses.

DEUTERONOMY 3:23-29; NUMBERS 27:15-23; DEUTERONOMY 34

ALL was now ready, and Israel about to cross the Jordan and take possession of the Promised Land! It was

only natural - one of those traits in the history of the g reat heroes of the Bible, so peculiarly precious, as

showing in their weakness their kinship to our feelings - that Moses should have longed to share in what

was before Israel. Looking back the long vista of these one hundred and twenty years - first of life and trial

in Egypt, then of loneliness and patient faith while feeding the flocks of Jethro, and, lastly, of labor and

weariness in the wilderness, it would indeed have been strange, had he not wished now to have part in the

conquest and rest of the goodly land. He had believed in it; he had preached it; he had prayed for it; he had

labored, borne, fought for it. And now within reach and view of it must he lay himself down to die?

Scripture records (Deuteronomy 3:23-26), with touching simplicity, what passed between Moses and his

Heavenly Father. 55 "And I entreated grace from the Lord at that time, saying: Lord Jehovah, Thou hast

begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness and Thy strong hand. For what God is there in heaven or in the

earth which doeth like Thy doings and like Thy might? Oh, that I might now go over and see the good land

which is on the other side Jordan, this goodly mountain and the Lebanon! And Jehovah was wroth with me

on account of you, and hearkened not unto me. And God said to me: Let it now suffice thee 56 - continue not

to speak to Me any more on this matter."

The deep feelings of Moses had scarcely bodied themselves in the language of prayer. Rather had it been

the pouring forth of his inmost desires before his Father in heaven - a precious privilege which His children

possess at all times. But even so Moses had in this also, though but "as a steward" and "afar off," to follow

Him whose great type he was, and to learn the peaceful rest of this experience, after a contest of thought

and wish: "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done." And it was the good will of God that Moses

should lay himself down to rest without entering the land. Although it came in punishment of Israel's and of

Moses' sin at the waters of Meribah, yet it was also better that it should be so - better for Moses himself.

For on the top of Pisgah God prepared something better for Moses than even entrance into the land of

earthly promise.

And now calmly, as a father setteth his house in order, did Moses prepare for his departure. During his life

all his thoughts had been for Israel; and he was faithful even unto the death. His last care also had been for

the people whom he had loved, and for the work to which he had been devoted - that Jehovah would

provide for His congregation "a shepherd" "who may lead them out and bring them in" (Numbers 27:16, 17).

Little else was left to be done. In a series of discourses, Moses repeated, and more fully re -stated, to Israel

the laws and ordinances of God their King. His last record was "a song" of the mercy and truth of God

(Deuteronomy 32); his last words a blessing upon Israel (Deuteronomy 33). Then, amid the respectful

silence of a mourning people, he set out alone upon his last pilgrim-journey. All the way up to the highes t

top of Pisgah the eyes of the people must have followed him. They could watch him as he stood there in the

sunset, taking his full view of the land - there to see for himself how true and faithful Jehovah had been. Still

could they descry his figure, as, in the shadows of even, it moved towards a valley apart. After that no

mortal eye ever beheld him, till, with Elijah, he stood on the mount of transfiguration. Then indeed was the

longing wish of Moses, uttered many, many centuries before, fulfilled far b eyond his thinking or hoping at

the time. He did stand on "the goodly mountain" within the Land of Promise, worshipping, and giving

testimony to Him in "Whom all the promises are yea and amen." It was a worthy crowning this of such a life.

Not the faithful steward of Abraham, Eliezer of Damascus, when he brought to his master's son the God-

given bride, could with such joy see the end of his faithful stewardship when the heir entered on his

possession, as this "steward over God's house," when on that mountain he did homage to "the Son in His

own house."