Eulogies to Moses

So here we are folks, back at the death of Moses which we thought was coming a month ago in Numbers 27. Little did we know we had all that wonderful territory in Deuteronomy to cross first. We have travelled with Moses since the beginning of October. I don’t know about you, but I feel a lot closer to his story than I ever have done before. It’s been quite a journey.

Firstly, here are ten facts about his death:-

1. He died on Mount Nebo
2. He died overlooking the land he would never enter
3. He was buried in a valley in Moab
4. It was exactly as God said it would be
5. No one has ever known where his grave is
6. He was 120 years old
7. His eyes were not weak
8. His strength was not gone
9. The Israelites grieved for him for 30 days
10. Joshua took over as leader because Moses had laid hands on him and he was filled with wisdom

Here is the eulogy to Moses from Deuteronomy 34 –

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.  Deuteronomy 34:10-12

And here is my personal eulogy to Moses –

Moses, what a man! What a confusing start he had to his life, being brought up as an Egyptian and yet with Hebrew blood running through his veins. When he fled into the desert after killing that Egyptian, who would have believed where he would have ended up? At that stage, he was a broken man with no hope and no future. And yet God had plans for him, plans for him to be one of the greatest leaders of all time. He reluctantly went along with God’s plans – lacking in confidence, full of self-doubt – and yet learning to trust and and obey the one true God. He learnt to rely on God for the words to say, the strength to lead, the wisdom to make decisions. He had a personal relationship with his God – conversation after conversation with the holy, all powerful God. God spoke to the people through him, provided for the people through him, disciplined the people through him. Moses allowed God to work in him and through him like no other man of faith before or after.

Before getting to know him, I had underestimated Moses. I had no sense of the length of the journey. I had no sense of the scale of the journey through the wilderness or the internal journey of faith that took place. Life must have been lonely at times for Moses. Scary too. And frustrating. He had to learn to rely on God. He learnt the hard way.

And then he was robbed of the ultimate prize, the reward that would have made it all worthwhile. He never got to lead the people into the Promised Land. He never got to enter the Promised Land for himself. He had to observe it from a distance. He had to hand over responsibility to Joshua. He had come so far, had learnt so much, had come to trust and obey – and yet he never quite made it. I feel gutted for him.

I have learnt such a lot from Moses. Most of all, I have learnt something of what it is to trust and to obey. Of how important it is to remind myself everyday of who God is and what He has done. To recognise that trusting and obeying God really is the best way to live life to the full.

Like Moses, I want to be in daily conversation with God.

Like Moses, I want to accept (even reluctantly at times) and learn to embrace the journey that God has in store for me.

Like Moses, I want God to work in me and through me.

Like Moses, I want to obey all that God asks of me.

Like Moses, I want to trust in God’s unfailing love and provision.

So thank you Moses, for all that you have taught me over the last few months. I hope that you will stay in my heart and mind as we carry on with this journey.

With much admiration and appreciation and gratitude,

Helen