Slideshow image

This blog post is Part 35 of a series entitled "From Fear To Freedom" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN. 

Message Date: November 24, 2024

Click here to listen to this message

Deuteronomy 34:1-8

I did not want to read Deuteronomy 34 this week. I have read it most likely 40 times since January. But this time... this week... I knew would be the last time I read this passage for quite some time... if not for all of eternity. I do not know if, in my lifetime, I will ever again study this story in such tremendous detail of the life of this man, Moses.

I pondered this question often this week... I wonder how many humans have climbed Mount Nebo as did Moses. To the top of Pisgah is quite the climb for anyone, but especially for a 120 year-old man. At its highest point, the pinnacle of Pisgah reaches a height of four thousand, five hundred feet. I think I would have had quite the challenge making such a climb when, in this day any such ascent would have been made without expensive climbing shoes, nor even a cleared path upon which to traverse.

As I meditated on the Holy Scriptures this week, I too considered this question: What was the last thing of which Moses thought before he drew his final breath on the summit of Mt. Pisgah? It has been said, that upon those final moments before passing, so very many highlights of this life flood one’s mind. We will never see the Promised Land as did Moses. How could anyone see this land through the complexity of feelings and emotions and passions and sentiments as did Moses? Moses begins taking this personal panoramic journey over this beautiful land by first looking North.

There the Lord showed him the whole land - from Gilead to Dan... Deuteronomy 34:1b

This territory would have been north of Moses. We know that Moses then turns to look West.

All of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh... Deuteronomy 34:2

From there, Moses looks South from where he is standing atop the summit of Mount Nebo. The second part of verse 2 reads:

All the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea... Deuteronomy 34:2

What a beautiful gaze South this must have been for Moses, as he looks across the land of Judah down to the Mediterranean Sea. And then verse three details the complete all-encompassing moment for this man as, finally, Moses looks East. Verse three reads:

The Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Deuteronomy 34:3

I imagine in my mind that this process, this stirring and poignant geographical scene, took Moses a very long time - time may have even stood still for a moment, as this now old, 120 year-old man, after 40 years, saw with his own eyes the land God promised to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob hundreds of years previous. After all of the challenges, battles, fears, complexities and layers to this story; the loss of family, and comforts, and prestige and pleasures; after the 40 years of pause in Midian, and then the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses stands atop Mount Nebo looking North, West, South, and East. I have to believe with all the thoughts and emotions of the moment, one that surely surfaced above them all at the forefront of Moses’ mind...

God sure does keep His promises!

As a matter of fact, after Moses sees this beautiful land of Cannan, this is precisely what God says to Him:

Deuteronomy 34:4

And then... no ceremony. No attending angels. No “going away” party. No final commiserations nor condolences. Moses dies.

In my lifetime, only once have I been in the room standing beside a loved one at the time of their passing. This loved one, Pastor Jack Barron, the Senior Adult Pastor here at Donelson First for more than 30 years. Jack was a man of tremendous faith. Loved by so very many. And I was so very honored to be in this room with Jack, along with his wife, several of his sons and their wives and grandchildren. I was not in the room when Dorothy Mae Shupe, my grandmother, Memaw passed away on December 26, 2020. I had left Little Rock just a few days earlier to be back here for Christmas. When I left her side that day, I knew that would be the last time I would ever see Memaw until the day I see her, I am most sure, standing right beside Pepaw, on the day I hug both of their necks in eternity. I know my momma was right there with Memaw when she passed. That brings me great comfort.

For Moses, though he had journeyed for 40 years with more than 2 million fellow Hebrews, many of whom had become as family, none of them were present with him in his final moments atop Mount Nebo. His wife was not there. His sons were not there. His sister, Miriam, was not there, nor his brother, Aaron. No, on that day Moses climbed the summit, looked out across this most spectacular land – a land he had waited literally his entire life to see – and he did so without any other human present. In a moment such as this in one’s life, a moment that only comes once for us each, it is natural to expect that, in those final moments before one takes a final breath, those closest to you are those present with you in life’s final moment. Well... this was precisely what did not happen with Moses that day on the top of Pisgah. Except... There was one there with him... though not a human, it was his closest friend. We know they were close friends because Scripture tells us exactly this!

Exodus 33:7-11

This was such an important moment that reoccurred over and again for Moses during his 40 year journey through the wilderness. Moses erected a Holy Tabernacle – so sufficiently named the Tent of Meeting. And it was here where Scripture tells us that Moses and God met, speaking face to face, just as close friends would do. How special. How priceless. How life-changing this must have been for this Moses to spend such close and intimate times with an Almighty God. And so... here atop Pisgah, Moses has one final intimate moment with his Creator; his Protector; his Redeemer; his God; his close friend. What is so very interesting about this moment is the known reality of the last thing Moses saw before taking his last breath as a human coupled with the very next thing Moses saw after he dies... The Promised Land... and then the promised life-ever after in the eternity of Heaven.

Moses’ very last gaze across our world is the last and so very long look he gave to this land; the land of rich, vibrant green grasses; the land leading south to the clear, aqua waters of the Mediterranean; the land of promises; the land of freedom! And then, as he opens his eyes for the first time on the other side of death, he sees the forever after; the true Holy of Holies; eternity. And once again... his close friend. God. Moses leaves this life with God at his side. Moses arrives in the next life with God at his side. Now some might say, how horrific is this ending. This man who gave so very much to God never got that for which he had hoped and for which he had pleaded with God. And then, he climbs a mountain and dies. But in reality y’all, I do not want you to miss this... What we see here is the grace of a loving God. For the Father could have just simply killed Moses right at the moment he disobeyed Him as he violently, through anger as we discovered last week, struck a rock. He could have humiliated Moses in front of the entire nation of Israel at the Desert of Zin right at the moment Moses strived to steal God’s glory for himself. But God did neither.

Though Moses deserved death, and never warranted the privilege to be able to climb Mount Nebo and to look out across the plains of Moab at the top of Pisgah, God in fact gave Moses exactly this gift. And, oh, what a gift this gaze surely must have been for the man, Moses! Consider this – Moses finally sees this beautiful land – this land, the Promised Land, is the land that was always on the forefront of Moses’ mind as he willfully abandoned home, career, spouse, children, security and the simplicity of the comforts of a life in Midian to journey back to Egypt, the enemy, to do the will of God. This land, the new beginning for the people of God, is the land for which Moses fearlessly stands before the King of Egypt, most likely who was an adopted relative of Moses with whom he had grown up alongside over 40 years ago. Moses always had this land on the foreground of his membrane as, on 10 occasions, he stands before this King and ferociously proclaims, “Let God’s people go!”

It too is for this land, the land flowing with milk and honey, that Moses willingly allows himself to be subjected to cruelty, complaints, and condemnations; grotesque grumblings, jeers and judgements. He was often most mislabeled, misquoted, and misunderstood - - given guilty verdicts for mostly everything that went wrong, yet most rarely, if ever, celebrated for the victories that went right! He was blamed when he meticulously followed the vision the Lord gave as a leader, speaking with the Lord God placed on his heart to say...even knowing that doing God’s will would cost him mostly everything... his peace, his comfort, his reputation, and often his confidence and at times, even his very health. Moses did all that he did for the people whom he loved; loved with blinders, choosing to see God’s plan in the midst of indescribable pain inflicted upon him from the very people he is sacrificially leading to begin a new way, a new country, and a new life as the nation of God. And ultimately, it is upon this land, God’s Holy land, upon which Moses is gazing for the last time as a human, where the nation of Israel will conclusively, at last, take the final step across the Jordan as a new people coming to the end of a most miraculous journey from fear to freedom!

As I considered these final moments this week in the life of this most unique man, I pondered this reality. When one is dying, when one understands that he or she is currently taking those final few and precious breaths, I am confident that, for the believer, such a realization presents an all-encompassing heavenly dimension that is quite tremendous and terrific and remarkable and too, indescribable, to us all. For in this final moment of one’s life, this prodigious and overwhelming sensation, I can imagine, is as Paul describes:

What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

The next verse, Deuteronomy 34:5, was so very difficult for me to read this week. As I read it, I cried. After journeying with this man the past 11months, these words are difficult to read... I found myself immersed in sadness this week. For here is a man whose greatest aspiration in life was never realized. We each possess dreams, goals, desires, ambitions, wishes, hopes... some more than others... but each of us, on some level and in some way, dream big for “what’s next!” And too, we each, just as Moses have sinned. We each, just as Moses, have disobeyed God. Yet, God has not taken your life. He has not taken my life over my acts of disobedience. But for Moses, this is exactly what happens. 

Here on this mountain, looking North, West, South, and East, Moses’ dream is directly within his grasp... yet too... impossible to grasp. And so... On this day, and in this moment, and upon this mountain... Moses takes his last breath. But notice in this verse... there is a word used here in verse 5 that appears in this form in Scripture for the very first time. Any idea what word to which I refer? Read verse 5 again and see if one words stands out above all others:

Deuteronomy 34:5

The word?... “Servant.” Specifically, in verse 5, Moses is called “the servant of the Lord.” How many in the Bible are known as “the servant of the Lord?” Take a guess... This is the first time in all of the Holy Scriptures when someone is given the title “the servant of the Lord.”

Servant / Hebrew / ebed / n.m. = lowest of slaves

That is pretty low, is it not? In the times of the writing of the book of Deuteronomy, slaves are considered to be the lowest of the low; unfit to rule; uneducated to teach; ill-equipped to lead! Slaves are at the bottom of the rung as it relates to humanities position on the world stage. An “ebed,” or “servant” such as the one Moses is called here in Deuteronomy 34, this kind of servant is known to be even lower than that of a slave! But I must tell you... I so desire to be labeled in the same way, as is Moses... a lowly slave; a servant; a servant of the Lord!

There is only one other person in all of the Scriptures given this same title. An Old Testament prophet writes using this word – describing the coming of One Man; the Christ; the true “servant of the Lord:”

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1

The Apostle Paul wrote this describing the very acts of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Philippians 2:6-8

We only see this Hebrew word “servant” appear a handful of times in all of the Scriptures. And when used, it is only connected to two people: Moses and God’s Son, the Christ. One statement in Scripture that has brought to me this week an overwhelming sense of peace is what we read next in Deuteronomy 34:5.

Deuteronomy 34:5

Notice “how” Scripture says that Moses died. Now, I do not mean, “how” in the sense of “in what way” did his death come about. No, when I say “how,” I am speaking in association to Moses’s literal position...  Moses is in the exact position, location, in which the Lord had said he would be. This verse brings great comfort to me in that:

Not only does God know my time on earth... God too knows the end of my time on earth.

Why is this so very important for you and for me to know? Because, in possessing such knowledge, I do not have to live in or with or through fear. There is no need over possessing a fear of sickness; a fear of uncertainty; a fear over a potential tragedy; or even a fear of dying. I can live without fear knowing that God has a plan for my life. I can live with fearlessness knowing that God has a plan for the end of my life. With God, not only does He have a plan for my life, but in ordering the extent of and circumstances over my life, He too has, in fact, prearranged the very last breath of my life. Look again at verse 5:

And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. Deuteronomy 34:5

Now this time as you read verse 5, remove the words “there in Moab.” In doing so, this verse reads as this:

And Moses the servant of the Lord died as the Lord had said. Deuteronomy 34:5

Do you see how the two thoughts fit together perfectly? Keep in mind, no one climbed the mountain on this day with Moses. He climbed the mountain alone. But Church don’t miss this! Moses was not there alone. Moses was not on the mountain alone. Moses did not die alone. Death can often seem so very isolating; singular; lonely. But for those of us who, as did Moses, live as “the servant of the Lord,” we do not draw a final breath alone! God knows the extent of your life. He knows everything, every moment; every pain; every encounter; every difficultly; every celebration; every milestone; every ebb; every flow... everything that will happen throughout the entirety of your life.

Look at what Moses tells the nation of Israel right before he climbs Mount Nebo to take a last glance over the land of milk and honey. These words are quite popular, very well-known among the Church. As a matter of fact, later in the New Testament, Paul will write these very words when He speaks to the New Testament Church. But did you know that it was Moses who first said these words:

Deuteronomy 31:6

Moses knew that death was coming for him. He knew his time, the end of life, has come! Yet, with confidence he is able to say, “God will never leave you.” What comfort for us today, Church! And here, in the taking of his final breath on Mount Nebo, he saw with his own eyes the promise of this very truth become fulfilled as he did so in the very presence of the Holy God.

Church, you can have the confidence of knowing that whatever, whatever valley of death moments you face here in this life, you do not face such times nor any time alone. And even when death is calling your name, you can find freedom from your fears in knowing that God will never leave you; never forsake you! There have been some moments throughout this story where I’ve thought: “I cannot imagine seeing anything better than this moment!” You know, like... When a young, fearless Miriam, Moses’ sister, steps onto the scene at the ideal time and says,

Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” Exodus 2:7

I remember thinking, “I cannot imagine seeing anything better than this moment” when:

Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:5-6

I wonder if you thought “I cannot imagine seeing anything better than this moment” when we arrived at this point in the study:

Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Exodus 7:10

Or, I too remember thinking, “I cannot imagine seeing anything better than this moment,” when we read:

Exodus 14:23-30

At each of these, and at so very many more of, such moments, I found myself saying over and again over the last 11 months of our study From Fear to Freedom, “I cannot imagine seeing anything better than this moment!” Yet... I can truly say, now that we have come to the end of this study, I emphatically and categorically cannot imagine seeing anything better than this moment, here on Mount Nebo, when Moses has died, and we read:

Deuteronomy 34:6

Wait! Are you serious? God, the Creator of all, our Heavenly Father, put shovel to dirt, cleared a hole in the ground in the valley near Beth Peor, picked up the lifeless body of this 120 year-old servant of the Lord, placed him in the ground, and buried him? Picture that scene for a moment on that day; on that mountain; a man has died; and the Creator of the world pauses to place His friend in the ground. How amazing. How Special. How loving. How intimate. Keep in mind, though Scriptures tell us here that no one knows for sure where lies the grave of Moses, know this... Anywhere, anywhere, in this region would have been a horrifically, hard, and rocky, and dusty, and sweaty and dirty excavation to prepare the ground in such a mountainous desert area for burial.

But, who buries Moses? Jehovah God. Too keep in mind... this is the same God that Moses disobeyed. This is the same God of whom Moses attempted to upstage; this is the same God from which Moses attempted to rob him of His glory!  Yet here we see a Holy God, who could have left Moses’ cold body on the side of the mountain that day... but He did not! Instead... What a compassionate moment; a moment of love; an example of this true friendship between the two; between two close companions – between Moses and God. God did not have to do this! But God chose to do this, and in doing so, reminds us all.

It is not what you do or do not do that defines the immense and immeasurable love of God toward you.

God loves you. And because He loves you, He walks hand in hand with you, even unto your very last breath.

What a life! What a life! Not a perfect life; not a life without challenges by any means. But a life of unyielding faith; a life of unmistakable meaning; a life passionately on purpose! After such an intense deep dive into this critical moment in time for the nation of God’s people, I conclude that a fitting question for us each to answer this morning:

How am I to have such a life? I offer this word: Choice Look at the final words we read about Moses written by Paul in the New Testament:

Hebrews 11:24-26

This is the last definitive statement about the man, Moses, in all of the Scriptures. Do you see the word in verse 25? It reads: Moses “chose!” By definition, this Greek word reveals to us it was not merely that Moses had a decision to be made. No, this word, “chose,” speaks to the beliefs and position that impassion such a decision.

Chose / Greek / haireomai / v. = to take a definitive position

As it relates to the Church, I am convinced of this reality... Few leaders within the Church are willing to take a most definitive position on so very many issues, particularly those that have the potential to place the leader at odds with the culture, the popular voices of the day, and even, the church member under said leadership. Many leaders, so very many leaders within the Church sit back and wait to see what position others might take; to consider the sway of popular opinion; the voice of pop culture, reason, temperament, inclusivity, and tolerance both in and outside the Church.

The end result... The global Church today is at unrest with her identity because few leaders within the Church have made the choice to not take an undeniable position on the matters of morality, character, integrity, faith, salvation, obedience, and, ultimately, on her position whether or not to read, believe, obey, teach, and live by and through the fullness of God’s holy Word. Moses lived a life, as we read in Hebrews 11:26, that:

He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt... Hebrews 11:26a.

Moses made his choice. And so, on the day that God’s people stepped into the waters of the Jordan and then onto dry ground in Canaan, they do so without this great man, Moses, at their side, but still in possession of the very character and faithfulness of this great leader ever before them:

Joshua 3:9-17

Wow! What a way to end their most remarkable journey from fear to freedom! Moses was pulled from the waters as a boy. The nation of Israel was saved from the Egyptian Pharaoh and his armies through the waters of the Red Sea, and their first step onto the land promised to them by God took the nation of Israel directly through the waters of the Jordan and finally, onto the dry ground of Cannan! As we bring to a close what has been a most remarkable journey for our Church, I present you with this question with which I have contemplated this past week:

How shall Moses be remembered? For me, I will say that words such as faithful, humble, and courageous immediately come to mind. Even until the end, imagine what faith and humility and courage it took to ascend Mount Nebo, knowing from which he would never return! Too I will say that Moses should also be remembered as a great writer. He wrote the Pentateuch – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, under quite the excruciating of circumstances! And what a read it has been for us all!

But lastly, I will say this, Moses is mostly to be remembered for how God remembers him. For what matters most, is what God thinks. And God clearly ends the Pentateuch telling us exactly how Moses is to be remembered:

Deuteronomy 34:10-12

Wow! What a eulogy, written by the very hand of God. Church, as I always remind us... we do not study God’s holy Word merely for knowledge sake. For what good is knowledge if such knowledge does not inspire in us each to become someone more; someone better; someone like God? So rather than end on the question, “How shall Moses be remembered?” I pose this final question:

How shall you be remembered?

When those final words are spoken about you, what do you desire most to be said of your time on this earth? For me, I desire such words spoken of me as God spoke of Moses: Seven words in all. These words are found in Deuteronomy 34:10:

... whom the Lord knew face to face. Deuteronomy 34:10

May you each aspire for such on your personal journey from fear to freedom.

_________________________________

Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.