申命記34:1-12 Deuteronomy 34:1-12,

Moses and the Israelites had come to the land of Moab after a long journey in the wilderness. Moses then climbed a mountain called Mount Nebo. From the top of that mountain, he could see the land of Canaan across the river Jordan. At the top of the mountain, God said to Moses, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” Moses had worked hard to lead the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, where they were slaves, to teach them God’s teachings and to bring them to the land of Canaan. So why did God say, “You shall not go over there.” There was a deeper reason.

After leaving Mount Sinai, the Israelites arrived at a place called Kadesh, very close to the land of Canaan. But there they were afraid to enter the land of Canaan and wanted to return to Egypt. So, as punishment, God commanded them to travel in the wilderness for 40 years. And except for two people, Joshua and Caleb, who agreed to enter the land of Canaan, those who departed from Egypt were to die in the wilderness. Their children were to enter the land of Canaan.

During the wilderness journey, the Israelites did not believe in God and repeatedly said and did things that were against God. At one point, the Israelites defied Moses and Aaron and said, “Why have you brought us to this evil place? There is not even drinking water here!” However, God was willing to help the Israelites by performing miracles even there. He said to Moses, “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water.” What a patient God!

But Moses, who had been patiently serving God and the people, lost his temper and said,  “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” and struck the rock twice with his staff. Indeed, a miracle happened and water came out abundantly. But God said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Since God himself was patient, Moses should have simply done what God had commanded him to do. However, he let his frustration show in his words and attitude, and did not express that God is holy and different from human beings. And as punishment, Moses had to die before entering the land of Canaan.

Thus, Moses died in the land of Moab. It was a life of serving God and people. Some people might feel sorry that he died before entering the land of Canaan. But he must have been called to heaven. The way Moses lived his life reminds us of Jesus. Jesus also devoted his earthly life serving God and people. And even though Jesus had nothing wrong with him at all, he had to die on the cross. Is this a pitiful end? No. God resurrected him, led him to heaven and placed him on the throne of heaven.