Deuteronomy 34: So Long, Moses

Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD’s command.

There it is.

Moses is gone.

But doesn’t it seem fitting? There is nothing showy or heroic about that sentence. No fanfare. No slow-motion emotional manipulation. It says what it says. That is how you would expect the humblest man who ever lived to go out.

So humble, in fact, that no one even knows where his grave is. You can’t go visit it. You can’t make a shrine. You can’t set up an eternal flame.

He’s just gone. So long, Moses.

Honestly, when I read that today, I got a little sad. I had to pause and let that sink in. Even as I write this, I’m getting just a little teary. (What is WRONG with me?!) I felt a little like the first time I finished reading “Lord of the Rings.” I closed it and said goodbye to characters who felt like friends.

It makes sense thought, I have spent a good chunk of the last year of my life walking with Moses through the desert. I kinda liked the guy.

Normally, when important characters die, I give them a Eulogy.

I’m not going to do that with Moses. I think the writer of Deuteronomy does a great job. So we will just let him say it.

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequalled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

I don’t want to say much more, but let me share one of my favorite things about Moses.

He was not a know-it-all. A man with that kind of God-given authority would be forgiven for being just a little arrogant. Not Moses. He faced all kinds of situations where he didn’t know what to do. Rather than making an executive decision, he would pray. He would seek an answer from the LORD. And he wouldn’t make a decision until he had it.

Sometimes, this resulted in brand new, radical laws being passed.

That is one of my favorite things about Moses.

How about you? What is your favorite thing about Moses, the man of God? Let’s make a tribute wall in the comments section.

12 responses

My favorite thing about Moses is that he comes back. I always feel a little sad (okay, a lot sad, but I’m an easy cry) when I think of Moses passing away, never having reached the Promised Land. It doesn’t seem fair, but when we see Moses return in Matthew 17:3 we see he holds a significant place in the Kingdom! Sometimes life isn’t fair, but God sees us with complete clarity and in eternity, there is reward for hardship.

Lisa

May 1, 2012 at 5:11 am ∞

That is such a great comment! He is an example to us of what the lord promises us when we die to our own desires on this earth..yet sometimes I think we find it hard to swallow and truly believe He means it(just being true) but like you said, God honours Moses and his reward is so much greater than crossing the jordan with the rest! Love it!

Reply
- joshuajmasters
  
  May 1, 2012 at 5:25 am ∞
  
  Thanks, Lisa! I really appreciate it.
JBen

May 1, 2012 at 8:35 am ∞

I never thought about the fact that he actually does show up in the promised land. Interesting.

Reply

My favourite thing about Moses has to be his songs, no?! 😛

But seriously! I am sad to say goodbye to Moses aswell. the Lord brought so so much through that man! I think sometimes he gets a bad go with christians but can you imagine what his life was like to live yet as you said he remained in the most part so humble! It says a lot about the intimate relationship he had with God because when you see the Lord, truly see Him, you cant help but put yourself in perspective!

I like that he was teachable. He took advice from otheres, like Jethro.

I like the fact that Moses changed God’s mind (Ex. 32:11-14) about the disaster he had planned to do to his own people. Do I care that much about others?