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The Death of Moses
In all the dealings of God with His people there is； mingled with His love
and mercy； the most striking evidence of His strict and impartial justice。
This is exemplified in the history of the Hebrew people。 God had bestowed
great blessings upon Israel。 His loving…kindness toward them is touchingly
portrayed： 〃As an eagle stirreth up her nest； fluttereth over her young；
spreadeth abroad her wings； taketh them； beareth them on her wings： so the
Lord alone did lead him。〃 And yet what swift and severe retribution was
visited upon them for their transgressions！
The infinite love of God has been manifested in the gift of His
only…begotten Son to redeem a lost race。 Christ came to the earth to reveal
to men the character of His Father； and His life was filled with deeds of
divine tenderness and compassion。 And yet Christ Himself declares； 〃Till
heaven and earth pass； one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the
law。〃 Matthew 5：18。 The same voice that with patient； loving entreaty
invites the sinner to come to Him and find pardon and peace； will in the
judgment bid the rejecters of His mercy； 〃Depart from Me； ye cursed。〃
Matthew 25：41。 In all the Bible； God is represented not only as a tender
father but as a righteous judge。 Though He delights in showing mercy； and
〃forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin；〃 yet He 〃will by no means
clear the guilty。〃 Exodus 34：7。
The great Ruler of nations had declared that Moses was not to lead the
congregation of Israel into the goodly land； and the earnest pleading of
God's servant could not secure a reversing of His sentence。 He knew that he
must die。 Yet he had not for a moment faltered in his care for Israel。 He
had faithfully sought to prepare the congregation to enter upon the promised
inheritance。 At the divine command Moses and Joshua repaired to the
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tabernacle； while the pillar of cloud came and stood over the door。 Here the
people were solemnly committed to the charge of Joshua。 The work of Moses as
leader of Israel was ended。 Still he forgot himself in his interest for his
people。 In the presence of the assembled multitude Moses； in the name of
God； addressed to his successor these words of holy cheer： 〃Be strong and of
a good courage： for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land
which I sware unto them： and I will be with thee。〃 He then turned to the
elders and officers of the people； giving them a solemn charge to obey
faithfully the instructions he had communicated to them from God。
As the people gazed upon the aged man； so soon to be taken from them； they
recalled； with a new and deeper appreciation； his parental tenderness； his
wise counsels； and his untiring labors。 How often； when their sins had
invited the just judgments of God； the prayers of Moses had prevailed with
Him to spare them！ Their grief was heightened by remorse。 They bitterly
remembered that their own perversity had provoked Moses to the sin for which
he must die。
The removal of their beloved leader would be a far stronger rebuke to Israel
than any which they could have received had his life and mission been
continued。 God would lead them to feel that they were not to make the life
of their future leader as trying as they had made that of Moses。 God speaks
to His people in blessings bestowed； and when these are not appreciated； He
speaks to them in blessings removed； that they may be led to see their sins；
and return to Him with all the heart。
That very day there came to Moses the command； 〃Get thee up 。 。 。 unto Mount
Nebo； 。 。 。 and behold the land of Canaan； which I give unto the children of
Israel for a possession： and die in the mount whither thou goest up； and be
gathered unto thy people。〃 Moses had often left the camp； in obedience to
the divine summons； to commune with God； but he was now to depart on a new
and mysterious errand。 He must go forth to resign his life into the hands of
his Creator。 Moses knew that he was to die alone； no earthly friend would be
permitted to minister to him in his last hours。 There was a mystery and
awfulness about the scene before him； from which his heart shrank。 The
severest trial was his separation from the people of his care and lovethe
people with whom his interest and his life had so long
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been united。 But he had learned to trust in God； and with unquestioning
faith he committed himself and his people to His love and mercy。
For the last time Moses stood in the assembly of his people。 Again the
Spirit of God rested upon him； and in the most sublime and touching language
he pronounced a blessing upon each of the tribes； closing with a benediction
upon them all：
〃There is none like unto God； O Jeshurun；
Who rideth upon the heaven for thy help；
And in His excellency on the skies。
The eternal God is thy dwelling place；
And underneath are the everlasting arms：
And He thrust out the enemy from before thee；
And said； Destroy。
And Israel dwelleth in safety；
The fountain of Jacob alone；
In a land of corn and wine；
Yea； His heavens drop down dew。
Happy art thou； O Israel：
Who is like unto thee； a people saved by Jehovah；
The shield of thy help。〃
Deuteronomy 33：26…29； R。V。
Moses turned from the congregation； and in silence and alone made his way up
the mountainside。 He went to 〃the mountain of Nebo； to the top of Pisgah。〃
Upon that lonely height he stood； and gazed with undimmed eye upon the scene
spread out before him。 Far away to the west lay the blue waters of the Great
Sea； in the north； Mount Hermon stood out against the sky； to the east was
the tableland of Moab； and beyond lay Bashan； the scene of Israel's triumph；
and away to the south stretched the desert of their long wanderings。
In solitude Moses reviewed his life of vicissitudes and hardships since he
turned from courtly honors and from a prospective kingdom in Egypt； to cast
in his lot with God's chosen people。 He called to mind those long years in
the desert with the flocks of Jethro； the appearance of the Angel in the
burning bush； and his own call to deliver Israel。 Again he beheld the mighty
miracles of God's power displayed in behalf of the chosen people； and His
long…suffering mercy during the years of their wandering and rebellion。
Notwithstanding all that God
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had wrought for them； notwithstanding his own prayers and labors； only two
of all the adults in the vast army that left Egypt had been found so
faithful that they could enter the Promised Land。 As Moses reviewed the
result of his labors； his life of trial and sacrifice seemed to have been
almost in vain。
Yet he did not regret the burdens he had borne。 He knew that his mission and
work were of God's own appointing。 When first called to become the leader of
Israel from bondage； he shrank from the responsibility； but since he had
taken up the work he had not cast aside the burden。