The Lord Knew Moses Face to Face

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Lord Knew Moses Face to Face

Date: Feb. 19, 2023

Passage

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 (ESV)

1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 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.” 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, 6 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. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. 8 And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 34:10

And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

God led his people with Moses for forty years, from their powerful deliverance from Egypt, through their wilderness wanderings, and up to the cusp of entering the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God’s Spirit had sustained Moses so that he could serve his people with undiminished eyes and unwavering strength. But now his time was over. After viewing the Promised Land from a mountain, Moses died and was buried. God’s Spirit now filled Joshua, son of Nun.

In every generation, God leads his people. God raised Abraham as a father of faith. God used Moses to establish Israel as a holy nation. And now, God would use Joshua to lead his people to conquer the Promised Land. God leads his people in every generation. Our God rules over history.

Still, Moses was unique in that he knew the LORD face to face. He did all God sent him to do in Egypt, lead his people in the wilderness, and participated in God’s miracles. Israel was blessed to have such a shepherd! But we are more blessed. Our shepherd is Jesus, who is worthy of greater honor than Moses (Heb 3:3-6). Jesus reveals God not only in visage, but in touch, emotion, and action.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, you are faithful in every generation, leading us to Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Help me look into his glorious face today.

One Word: One Word: Be faithful to God in our generation

Isaac Obeys God and Stays in the Land

Genesis 26:1-35

Key Verse: 26:6

Isaac and Abimelech

So Isaac settled in Gerar.

Today's Question

How is Christ a king?

See answer and references