Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 34 before reading the devotional below.
Congratulations!! You’ve made it to the end of our Deuteronomy series — a lengthy Old Testament book with some pretty big challenges to explore. If you missed any chapters, you can always look up each series by category on the sidebar.
In today’s passage, we see the death of a fearless leader, Moses. In his final earthly meeting with God, he gets to survey the entire Promised Land. Even though he was unable to go into the land due to his failure to follow all of God’s commands, he can still taste the victory for the people of Israel.
Not too many people are strong with good eyesight at age 120. Times were different back then and God kept Moses alive and strengthened for a very special mission. I’m personally glad that he doesn’t typically wait until we are 80 years old anymore to set out our life purpose! As Moses dies, we see a transition of leadership to Joshua, who will lead God’s people into the Promised Land. (To keep going with this story, read on into the book of Joshua.)
God promised to deliver his people out of slavery in Egypt and to give them the land that he had already promised to Abraham years before. Moses’ leadership took God’s people right up to that promise, although it required one more generation to see its fulfillment due to the disobedience of Moses and the people. Even when we mess things up, God keeps his end of the bargain. His final talk with Moses was to show him all that he had worked for. God made sure that the people would take the land as promised. Sometimes we have to wait for God to make good on his promises, but he never fails to deliver. What are you waiting on God for today?