Deuteronomy 34

True peace is peace with God. Do you have this peace? The conclusion to the book of Deuteronomy, the last of the five books recorded by Moses, ends with the death of the prophet—the final chapter likely finished by Joshua’s inspired hand. Here we observe the last moments of Moses’s life as he obeys God’s instruction in ascending to the summit of a mountain. He is not going to enter the terrestrial land at this moment for the consequence of moments of failed leadership. However, he has and will receive peace with God.

God mercifully walks with Moses and reveals to him the terrain and locations of the tribal allotments (Deut. 34:1–4). We do not read of punishment and chastisement here, simply on the occasion of not going into the land with Israel; rather, this serves as an intimate spiritual retreat. Moses scaled the mountain several times as an elderly man in whom God supernaturally preserved for leadership. At no point had the Lord removed this care but actually sustained him to do all that was necessary and then finally, in a supernatural meeting, God compassionately took the prophet to the true land of promise, riches, and unhindered spiritual communion (Deut. 34:5–7). So, Moses received final and forever peace with God.

The people recognized the time of Moses concluded, now the future held conquest. With great mourning, and recognition of the special esteem God gifted in the prophet Moses, the people honored the memory of the saint. Simultaneously, the people affirmed the position unto which Moses led them—God ended the wilderness season and they must walk obediently into a new country (Deut. 34:8, 10–12). Fulfilling Deuteronomy 31, Joshua stood able to take the reins of leadership, well-equipped under the guidance and counsel of both God and God’s prophet Moses (Deut. 34:9). The people of God stand in peace through a greater mediator than Moses and greater conqueror than Joshua: the Savior, Jesus Christ. Do you know His peace? Walk in His path today, to the land in which Moses now stands.

Pastor Chris