The Lord told Moses to ascend Mount Abarim and from the mountain top he would have a glimpse of the promised land. After that he would die as Aaron his brother had, because he lost his patience with the people and dishonored the Lord at Meribah. After leading the people those long forty years through the wilderness it must have been a great sorrow for Moses to realize that he could not lead them into that beautiful land.
But it is lovely to see how Moses rises above his sorrow and disappointment, and is forgetful of self, seeking only the good of others. Here at the close of his course he continues to display the same desire for the blessing of God’s people as he did throughout his life. When told that he was about to be taken away in death, he asked the Lord to set a man over the congregation who would go in and out before them and lead them, so that the people of the Lord would not be like sheep without a shepherd. You see, he always thought of the people first of all, because he saw them as God’s people. No one knew their badness as he did, but he loved them because they belonged to the Lord.
Although Moses was the lawgiver, yet more often than not he acted in grace that met the people’s need when they had failed. How lovely it is to find one growing old who still seeks the blessing of God’s people. May we have more of the spirit that Moses showed here and entreat the Lord to raise up those who would care for the flock of God.
The Lord answered Moses’ desire and chose Joshua, his own servant, who had been with him and ministered to him and who had seen all his meek and lowly ways. He told Moses to take Joshua, a man in whom was the Spirit, and lay his hands on him and set him before Eleazar the priest and all the people. Moses was to give Joshua a charge in their sight and put some of his honor upon him, that all might be obedient unto him. He was to stand before Eleazar, and Eleazar was to ask counsel of the Lord for him. At the word of the priest they should go out and come in. And Moses did so.
Moses represented the law, but there was no entrance to the land on that ground. The people had failed utterly under it and Moses himself had failed. One sin was enough to shut Moses—or any one of us—out of all blessing. Yet it is beautiful to see Moses in company with the Lord, and Elijah, on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17; Luke 9). He is in the land there. Law might have kept him out, but grace brings him in. And so it is grace alone that brings any of us into blessing and into that heavenly land in the soon coming day.
Moses was God’s mediator. God spoke with him face to face and gave the law into his hands. But now God was going to take away the mediator and they were going to enter the land with a new leader or captain who had begun his course by the conquest of Amalek (Ex. 17). The Lord taught Joshua to fight His battles, but the priest in God’s presence gave the word of command. Joshua then is a type of Christ, the captain of our salvation, and Eleazar of Him also as our great High Priest.
ML-07/07/1974