54 of 365 - Perspective

And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. Deuteronomy 34:4-7
 
Forty years pass for the wandering Israelites.  It is time to enter the promised land at last. Moses gives a series of speeches and blessings to this group of people that have been under his leadership. He wants them to know and remember all that God commanded.

Because of an earlier act of disobedience on Moses’ part, he is not permitted to enter. It might seem a little harsh after all Moses has done (and all the grumbling people he dealt with for 40+ years!). Again, God is good and just and there are consequences for our actions. But keep this in mind, because we will see Moses again later in our study. For now, it is a special moment where God takes Moses to a mountain overlooking the promised land to see it before he dies and is buried by God.

Moses is 120 years old when he breathes his last breath. He may not be entering the earthly promised land with his fellow Israelites, but in his death, he enters the true and eternal promised land with his God. Moses loves God. He has walked faithfully with God. And now he is going to be face to face with God. It is time for someone else to take the reins and lead this unruly people.

Questions: Do you think it is unfair that Moses did not enter the promised land? Do you think Moses was upset about it or satisfied going to be with the God he faithfully followed? Reflect on how perspective can change how we view circumstances.