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Moses, the man who had bravely and faithfully led the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years, tragically died at the age of 120 though not from natural causes. As the Bible explains, when Moses perished his “eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” (Deut. 34:7) Instead, the cause of his death was supernatural, for God had put an end to his life after a serious error on his part.
As Numbers 20:1-13 explains, “God had commanded Moses to speak to a rock in order to bring forth water for the people who were grumbling against him and Aaron.”[1] This wasn’t the first time God had provided water out of a rock for His people. Earlier in Exodus 17 God instructed Moses to strike a rock to bring water out from it. But this second time around Moses was only supposed to speak to it. But in his anger he struck it instead, as he had done the first time. For this God sentenced the beloved leader to an early death. While we may not see any reasonable cause for such a severe punishment there are at least two and maybe three reasons for God’s righteous reaction.
First, for Moses’ disobedience. “Moses disobeyed the Lord by hitting the rock twice instead of speaking to it (Num. 20:11) …” And second, for his arrogance. Moses had “arrogantly [suggested] that he and Aaron, not the Lord, had brought forth the water.”[2] But there may be a third reason. As the Apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10, the physical rock represented the spiritual Rock, Jesus Christ. It’s possible then that the two episodes with the rocks were supposed to be foreshadows of the two episodes of Christ—namely, the first and second comings. The first rock, like Christ at His first coming, “was smitten and [the people] benefitted with living water; [but] the second rock was not supposed to be smitten” as Christ will not be smitten upon His return. If this is the case then, by striking the second rock Moses ruined the image.[3] So, for these reasons God put Moses to death. But not before the Lord showed him the Promised Land from atop Mount Nebo.
“But the statement ‘to this day no one knows where his grave is’ indicates that either the Lord alone or through the agency of His angels buried Moses.”
Jack S. Deere
Although Moses died for his disobedience, he nevertheless was greatly honoured in death by both God and man. Indeed, “his last moments on earth were spent in intimate fellowship with God who then permitted no human to take part in his burial.”[4] That’s why “to this day” we don’t know exactly where he was buried. Only that it was somewhere “in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth-peor.” (Deut. 34:6) This was the place where Israel resided during the events of Deuteronomy 5-33 (cf. 3:29; 4:46) when God was giving them instructions and blessings.
As an aside, it should be mentioned that “It is possible to translate the clause ‘He buried him’ as ‘he was buried’ (meaning that men and, not God, buried him)…But the statement ‘to this day no one knows where his grave is’ indicates that either the Lord alone or through the agency of His angels buried Moses. Jude (v. 9) also seems to confirm this interpretation.”[5] Hence Moses had the honour of being the only person in recorded history to be buried by God Himself.
But Moses was honoured by the people as well for they mourned for him 30 days rather than the traditional mourning period of 7 days. His death truly was a devastating blow to Israel, and it was the end of an era. But God promised them that in time He would raise up another prophet like Moses—one even greater in fact—to bring them into a new era. And significantly, the next time we see Moses is on another mountain (the Mount of Transfiguration) with that very prophet—the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 3:1-6)—who “offered to take Israel into [that] new era, the Age of His Grace.”[6] Unfortunately, as in times past the Israelites rebelled against Him and rejected His gracious offer. However, on a positive note, says scholar Jack Deere, the Bible “still points forward to the day when that offer will be accepted and God will heal and avenge His people (Deut. 32:36).”[7]
Ryan Hembree is a daily co-host, speaker, and writer of Bible Discovery. He also hosts a YouTube channel that shows the unity of the Bible and how science and Scripture fit together. Ryan also has an honorary Masters of Ministry in Creation Science from Phoenix University of Theology.
[1] Jack S. Deere, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck general editors, P.320.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Chuck Missler, Learn the Bible In 24 Hours, P.61.
[4] Jack S. Deere, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck general editors, P.323.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
