Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1913-11-14
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 1e
THE DEATH OF MOSES.

LESSON TEXT-Deut. 34:1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-"Precious in the
sight of Jehovah is the death of his
saints" Ps. 116:15.
]. The Old Leader, Wv. 1-8. We have
now come to the last of our lessons
which have to do with Moses. Fol-
lowing his lamented failure at the
time of the second arrival at Kadesh-
Barnea, Miriam dies; at Mt. Hor,
Aaron departed and his Office is be-
slowed upon his son, Eleazar. Then
quickly followed the plague of SER
pents, the defeat of the king Of the
Amorites, Balaam's folly, the apostasy
of Israel which was cleansed by blood
through the zeal of Phinehas, and final
ly the arrival upon the plains of
Moab.
Law Confirmed.
Here Moses repeats and confirms
the law to this new generation of
Israel, delivers his last charge, sings
his last song, ascends Mt. Nebo to
view Canaan, and is forever with
the Lord" Inthe passage marked out
for this lesson we have the account of
the passing of this wonderful servant
of God. Returning to ch. Bills and
32:44-52 we see this journey in pros
pect, after that we read Moses parting
blessing and in this section we read
of the fulfilment of that prospect
Moses anticipated his departure by a
quiet dignity, absolutely divorced from
haste or fret, that was characteristic
Of his life of submission and was the
essence Of his life of faith. No pro
test, no complaint, calm acquiescence
to the will Of God. At the same time
there was absolute confidence that the
will of God would be carried out, see
ch. 81: 1-S. Strength and courage
were to be the portion of Israel under
their new leader, Joshua.
Before departure Moses solemnly
charged this newer generation to OBJ
serve the law, declaring that it is not
vain nor an empty thing, but in deed
and in truth to them the way Of life.
Then comes the simple dignified ac-
count of this last act of obedience, sim
pie, yet sublime. Yonder we see aim,
viewed by the hosts of Israel, as he
ascends the mountain alone-yet not
alone-prepared to spend his last
hours upon earth with Jehovah, who
doubtless appeared as the angel
Jehovah and pointed out to him the
land he so much longed to enter, but
could not because he failed to sanctify
God in the sight Of the people, at a
critical moment. Taking the glory to
himself on that occasion demanded an
act of punishment as warning to
the people, hence, ''it went ill with
Moses for their sakes," Ps. LOG: go.
There upon the mount Gods covenant
with Abraham is confirmed and with
undimmed eye and undiminished vigor
". y, Moses was shown the fulfil
ment of that promise, his body was
laid at rest by God himself. in an un-
known and unmarked sepulchre, "over
against Beth-Peor," v. 6, and the chill
dren of Israel mourned for him thirty
days. The sight from the mountain
top revealed to Moses was not to tan
talizbe him, far from it, but rather
that as he viewed that prospect he
was to be rewarded for those forty
years of leadership and struggle.
Jehovah's promise of more than four
hundred years standing is about to
be fulfilled; shall not all others be
fulfilled? Titus L: %.
II. The New Leader, v. 9. God never
leaves his people without a leader
and hence Joshua is exalted to com
| pensate Israel for the loss Of Moses
'"The king is dead-long live the
king" The worker dies, the work
goes on and many times the victories
of the new leader are fully as great
and far reaching as any won by the
former leader Joshua was not Moses
he was Joshua and as such called te
face new problems. He had his owl
equipment, "the spirit of wisdom" re
ceived through Moses, the channel o.
Gods power ". 81, and was given hii
own particular instruction, Josh. 1: 1-9
He was called of God but he had the
experience and training of Moses t.
prepare him for his life's work. Tht
children of Israel gave this new leader
cheering reception; (1) they listened
to him; (2) they obeyed him, a thing
they had not always done for Moses
Joshua was not so great as Moses be
cause his work was not so great.
III. A Great Character, w. 1912. Tn
description of Moses is of one who saw
Jehovah face to face, peculiar dig
nifty, and the secret of his greatness
When Aaron and Miriam murmuret
God declared that Moses was dineren
from all other prophets in that, witt
him will speak mouth to mouth, ever
manifestly, and not in dark speeches
and the form of Jehovah shall he be
hold,h Mum. 1868. Moses himsel
declared to Israel that when Coz
spoke to them out of the midst of tn,
fire, 81 stood between the Lord ant
you," Deut. 5:4, s. The suprem'
teaching of this lesson is the fact tina
great as Moses was, he was never
theless excluded from the promiset
land as a warning to Israel.
On the other hand this story is |
] VI bAO bOAuC
compassion and watchful care Of Jeho
vah even to the end. Even the disciI
line of Jehovah is accompanied b.
gentleness. If he must needs be ex
ciuded yet he is not excluded from
communion with Jehovah.
Thus this saint who was separated
to the will of God passes out of life
In the hour of the consummation o
his life work his spirit passes int
yet closer fellowship with God. Th'
Psalmist in the words of the colder
text most beautifully suggests tina
such an hour is delight to God, ant
suggests the welcome which must b,
awaiting his saints. Do not forget tn,
last glorious appearing Of Moses afte
the lapse of the centuries when:
"On the hills he never trod
Spoke of the strige that won our life
with the Incarnate Son of God"
Death and Judgment were a cor
stant source of fear to me until real
lied that neither shall have any hol
on the child Of Cod" D. L. Moody
Do not put death out of consideration