A Devoted Servant

Printable Version

PASSAGE: Deuteronomy 34:1-12

COMMENT: Moses came to the end of his life after viewing the land of Israel from Mount Pisgah. The “servant of the LORD” finished his life for God and was buried by Him. He was a special kind of prophet who knew the Lord face to face. He showed the signs of God to Israel and to Egypt. Even at 120, his eye was not dim and his natural force was not abated. He was truly a special man of God.

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

1.                   Moses went up from the plains of _________ unto the mountain of ________.

2.                   When Moses died, his eye was not _______ and his natural force was not __________.

3.                   The children of Israel wept for Moses ________ days.

4.                   Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of __________.

5.                   God worked in all the great _________ which Moses showed in the sight of all ________.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

1.                   Before Moses died, the Lord spoke to him about the Promised Land, “I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.” Why did Moses not get to go into the land? Why do you think God showed it to him?

2.                   Moses was buried by the Lord and the Bible states that “no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day” (Deuteronomy 34:6). Why do you think the Lord did not allow the children of Israel to know the place of his burial?

3.                   Deuteronomy 34:12 speaks of “all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent” Moses to do. What are some of the signs Moses did? What was their purpose?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

1.                   More than anyone else in the Bible, Moses is given the titles “the servant of the LORD” and the “servant of God.” Why do you think Moses was given these titles in such a special way? What all does it mean to be the servant of the Lord? How could you be a better servant of God?

2.                   Deuteronomy 34:10 says of Moses, “there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.” What is this saying about Moses? How did the Lord reveal Himself to other prophets? Why did Moses have such a relationship with the Lord? How can we draw closer to the Lord?

SUGGESTED MEMORY VERSES:  Deuteronomy 34:10

MEDITATION:

Only a Link in the Chain

Alone, Moses climbed the rugged path to the top of Mount Pisgah in the land of Moab. Though preserved in body and mind, his 120 years (40 of them in the wilderness) made him worn in years and in battles. His last battle was his attempt to enter the Promised Land. He lost. He was to die after seeing the land from the mountain top.

From the peak, Moses cast his undimmed eyes across the Jordan to the city of Jericho 3500 feet below. God showed him the land that had been promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These earlier patriarchs had lived in the land but did not possess it. Moses saw the land but did not enter it. That would be left to another. Joshua would lead the Israelites into their possession of the Promised Land.

When the visual tour was finished, Moses died and was “gathered unto his people” (Deuteronomy 32:50). The Lord buried him in a place unknown to men. The work of Moses on earth was done. He had received the mantle from Abraham and his descendants and had passed it on to Joshua. He did not begin the work and he did not finish it. He was chosen to be a link in the chain.

That is the way for all of us. We can do no work that does not build on something before us. And anything of eternal value cannot be completed in a lifetime. We pass on to the next generation what we received from the last one (Psalm 78:2-6). We learn from our teachers so we might teach others (2Timothy 2:2). There is no disgrace in being a link. The only disgrace is in failing to link to the next generation.

Sign Up to Receive These in your Email

Check Bible Study Questions & Comments 

 

Send Page To a Friend Join the Learn the Bible mailing list Email: