Deuteronomy 34:1-12 gives an account of Moses’ death. Moses died on Mount Nebo (Pisgah) after he viewed the promised land from that mountain. Thus, Moses died in the land of Moab; he was prevented by God from entering Canaan because of his disobedience in Kadesh. At that place on their wilderness journey, the Israelites complained because they lacked water. Moses was instructed by God to speak to a rock located there, and God would cause water would gush forth. Weary of complaints from his people, Moses struck the rock two times with his staff. Water did pour forth from the rock, but Moses had disobeyed God. The Lord declared, “Because you did not trust me to show my holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them” (Num. 20:12; see vv. 1-13 for the context).
Why would God punish Moses so harshly? It is helpful to know that earlier, in Exodus 17:2-7, the Israelites had been in a similar situation. They were at a place called Rephidim. Water was not available, and, as they would do in Kadesh, the people griped and complained. God instructed Moses to take some of the elders of Israel with him and to strike a specific rock with his staff. This he did, and water came forth from the rock, meeting Israel’s needs in a miraculous way.
Within the broad context of Scripture, it is clear that at Kadesh, Moses ruined the picture that God wanted to present regarding the salvation He would later make available through His Son, Jesus. Having been struck once (having died a substitutionary death on the cross), Jesus needs only to be spoken to. In other words, since Jesus has died for us, we need only speak to Him to avail ourselves of His life-giving water. (See 1 Sam. 2:2, 2 Sam. 22:32; Pss. 18:31; 95:1; Matt. 21:42; John 4:7-14; Acts 4:11; Rev. 21:6). God cares deeply about the pictures and images He seeks to portray, so when Moses distorted God’s picture of His Son, the Lord levied appropriate punishment.
On at least one occasion after Moses learned of his punishment, he sought to persuade God to change His mind. In Deuteronomy 3:23-25, Moses recalled begging “the LORD: Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can perform deeds and mighty acts like Yours? Please let me cross over and see the beautiful land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.” God became angry with Moses and told him not to bring the matter up again (see vv. 26-28).
The Bible therefore records that “Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab facing Beth-peor, and no one to this day knows where his grave is. Moses was 120 years old when he died; his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not left him. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 30 days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end” (34:5-8).
Scripture adds, “Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He was unparalleled for all the signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do against the land of Egypt—to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to all his land, and for all the mighty acts of power and terrifying deeds that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel” (vv. 9-12).
Copyright © 2016 B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in this article are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.