- Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12
Deuteronomy 33:1 - 34:12
Today's reading finished off the book of Deuteronomy and was a relatively short reading. In chapter 33, Moses blessed all the tribes of Israel in preparation of his death and their journey into the promised land.
In Chapter 34, the Lord had Moses up to Mount Nebo to see the promised land in its entirety. I am sure it was painful for Moses to know that his one huge mistake cost him the ability to ever set foot into that land. Regardless, even though he punished, the Lord still loved Moses greatly -- and there is a lesson for all of us to be learned in that.
We are then told that Moses died and that the Lord buried him (34:5-6). I thought that was very strange -- I don't recall any reading so far where the Lord buried someone. We are told that the burial place of Moses remains a secret to all men, even to this day.
I really wonder why that is. I did a little looking online, hoping for some answers. What I found was a reference to Jude 1:9, where there is a short reference to the archangel Michael having a dispute with the devil over the body of Moses. Right now I do not know any more than that, and given the results of my search, I am doubtful that I will know anymore, even after reading through the entire bible. But hence is the nature of the Lord -- some things are His secrets, only to be revealed to us at the time of His choosing.
We are told that Moses was 120 when he died, "yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever" (34:7). I think this verse shows us that the Lord wants us to be strong and healthy, not sick and frail. Even if we are 120 years old and about to die, we should be doing the work of God until the day we die. And the Lord will always give us the ability to do so.
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