November 28th,
2004
I. Moses ascends
A.
To view The Promised Land (1-4)
1.
This was the land that God
promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
2.
This was the land for which
the Children of
3.
This was the land that the
older generation never saw because of their 40 year wandering.
4.
This was the land that the
younger generation was about to inherit.
5.
This was the land that Moses
could only see, but could not enter. (Numbers
20:11-12)
B. To Die
(5)
1.
It’s only proper that Moses
is last seen at the top of a mountain.
-
he will be seen again on another mountain in Matthew 17:3.
2.
Moses died in the presence
of the Lord. (4-5).
3.
Moses died “according to the
word of the Lord.” (5)
II. The Burial of Moses (6)
A.
Moses had an unusual burial
in that God buried him.
1.
God actually took the body
of Moses, prepared a grave, and placed the body of Moses in the grave.
2.
No one, then or now, knows
the location of Moses’ grave. (6).
B.
It has been speculated that
the reason why God buried Moses was to prevent the grave from becoming a shrine
of worship.
III.
The Physical Characteristics
of Moses at the time of his death. (7)
A.
He was 120 years old.
B.
His eyes were not dim.
C.
His natural strength was not
weakened.
IV.
The death of Moses marked
the beginning of Joshua’s leadership. (9-12)
A.
Joshua was prepared by Moses
to be the next leader. (9)
1.
Joshua had “the spirit of
wisdom.”
-
The responsibilities of
leadership are too numerous for human ingenuity alone.
2.
Joshua had been given Moses’
approval by the symbolic act of laying on hands.
3.
The people know that Joshua
has Moses’ blessing, and God’s presence.
(see Joshua 1:5).
B.
The last three verses of
Deuteronomy 34 mark the end of the Pentateuch (The books of Moses).
1.
These verses testify to the
unique life of Moses. (10)
2.
Moses was used mightily by
God to save the people from Egypt.
(11-12)
C.
It’s almost as though Joshua
is NOT to have the limelight at this point.
1.
This is Moses’s moment.
2.
Joshua is mentioned, but it
is clear that Joshua cannot REPLACE Moses, only SUCCEED him.
Please read Matthew
1:18-25 for next Sunday as we look at an Angel Appearing to Joseph.
(The beginning of a three
part series to take us up to Christmas).