Moses Prepared for His Death (Numbers 27:12-13)

“The Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.” — Numbers 27:12–13

 

Summary:

God’s command that Moses prepare for death shows both the seriousness of sin and the tenderness of divine mercy. Although Moses was dearly loved, his disobedience kept him from entering Canaan. Yet God softened the sentence in three ways: Moses would first see the promised land, his death would bring him to God’s people, and he would follow the same path Aaron had already taken. The prospect of heaven, reunion with departed believers, and the peaceful deaths of faithful friends can lessen the fear of dying. As earthly ties diminish and heavenly ties increase, believers may face death with courage and confidence in God’s sustaining presence.

 

Outline:

• Sin has consequences for believers
  • God loved Moses, yet his disobedience brought real and painful discipline.
• God tempered judgment with mercy
  • The sentence remained, but God graciously surrounded it with consolations.
• Moses was allowed to see Canaan
  • The promised land assured him of God’s faithfulness and pointed toward a better heavenly country.
• Death would gather him to God’s people
  • He would join the faithful in heaven and enjoy the believer’s great family reunion.
• The example of others encouraged him
  • Aaron’s peaceful death showed that God sustains his people and helps them face the same journey.