I wonder what Moses was thinking when he reached the end of his life. Was he happy? Relived? Disappointed? I'd imagine it was a little bit of all that. And what were Israel's thoughts? Yes, the bible says they mourned for thirty days. But Moses was also the only thing keeping them from entering the promised land at the point of his death. He needed to die for God's promise to finally be fulfilled.
Which is where I think disappointment and possibly bitterness creeps in to Moses' final thoughts.
Moses died at the age of 120. The Bible says his vision was good and he had his strength. By this point, it appears the Moses has moved passed his fear of speaking in public that he has when God first calls him. He just delivered his final sermon to the Israelites (and you thought your pastor was long winded).
After delivering his final instructions to Israel, God informs Moses that after he dies, the Israelites are going to turn away from God and prostitute themselves to other gods.
Moses didn't really want to rescue the Israelites in the first place. He was content to stay in the dessert, watching sheep for his father-in-law. The Israelites were a major pain in Moses' ass. They complained pretty much as soon as they left Egypt. They complained against God for food an for water. They complained about the food God has miraculously provided because they wanted something different. (I imagine a child who wants pizza for dinner again complaining that mom made spaghetti) WHen they get to the promise land they refuse to enter because they have forgotten that God delivered them out of Egypt and don't think they can take the land God has promised. And we can't forget how impatient they get while Moses is receiving the law from God, that they go ahead and make a golden cow to worship. They also heard the voice of God before creating a false God. The Israelites were a frustrating people. And in Moses' final moments, they continue to be frustrating. The Israelites are the reason Moses doesn't get to enter the promised land.
But if Moses hadn't gone to Egypt he would've missed out on God. While the burning bush is an incredible life changing moment, where do you think it ranked on the list of things Moses saw God do? All the signs in Egypt, the manna, the quail, the water from the rock... Not to mention, seeing God and talking to God every day. The book of Deuteronomy closes with:
"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 officialsand 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).
For all the strife Israel caused in Moses, for all the interceding he had to do for them, Moses had the closest, most personal relationship with God on earth since Eden closed it's door to humanity.
Life is tough. People can be difficult. And while I'm sure the disappointment of not being able to enter the promised land weighed heavy on Moses and the knowledge that the people God had saved and had called were going to turn their back on God again was hard to die with, I imagine Moses would've have traded his life experiences for anything. He knew God in an intimate and personal way and had seen God do great things in his lifetime. And I'm sure that was comforting at the end of his life when God called him off the earth.
And at least he had a view of that which God promised before he died.
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