Deuteronomy 34: Field Trips

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trip." trip." That meant the class was leaving school That meant the class was leaving school That meant the class was leaving school grounds for a special place. grounds for a special place. grounds for a special place. Any place we went was special just as Any place we went was special just as Any place we went was special just as long as was not in school. Permission long as was not in school. Permission long as was not in school. Permission slips needed to be signed. We would meet slips needed to be signed. We would meet slips needed to be signed. We would meet some of our friends' parents who were some of our friends' parents who were some of our friends' parents who were chaperones and we would get to leave chaperones and we would get to leave chaperones and we would get to leave class to see something special. I think class to see something special. I think class to see something special. I think ever since Moses' death, God was ever since Moses' death, God was ever since Moses' death, God was planning a field trip. planning a field trip. planning a field trip. Deuteronomy 34 is the end of a life well Deuteronomy 34 is the end of a life well Deuteronomy 34 is the end of a life well lived. A 120-year-old lived. A 120-year-old lived. A 120-year-old man will go to heaven. man will go to heaven. man will go to heaven. Listen to verse 4. Listen to verse 4. Listen to verse 4. Then the Lord said to him, "This is the Then the Lord said to him, "This is the Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saying, 'I will give it to and Jacob saying, 'I will give it to and Jacob saying, 'I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it your descendants. I have let you see it your descendants. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go with your eyes, but you shall not go with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.'" So Moses, the servant of over there.'" So Moses, the servant of over there.'" So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of the Lord, died there in the land of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. Moab, according to the word of the Lord. Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in the valley And he buried him in the valley And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no man knows his burial place to but no man knows his burial place to but no man knows his burial place to this day.

this day. this day. Although Moses was 120 years old when he Although Moses was 120 years old when he Although Moses was 120 years old when he died, his eyes was not dim nor his vigor died, his eyes was not dim nor his vigor died, his eyes was not dim nor his vigor abated. abated. abated. Something would happen almost 1,500 Something would happen almost 1,500 Something would happen almost 1,500 years later that shows God's merciful years later that shows God's merciful years later that shows God's merciful heart. Heaven heart. Heaven heart. Heaven would take a field trip with two people would take a field trip with two people would take a field trip with two people on the bus. on the bus. on the bus. Moses died well. Moses died well. Moses died well. He did not leave earth a broken man, but He did not leave earth a broken man, but He did not leave earth a broken man, but strong in God. strong in God. strong in God. It says in verse 7, Moses was 120 years It says in verse 7, Moses was 120 years It says in verse 7, Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyes were not old when he died, yet his eyes were not old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. weak nor his strength gone. weak nor his strength gone. In the shortest chapter of Deuteronomy, In the shortest chapter of Deuteronomy, In the shortest chapter of Deuteronomy, God packs these 12 verses with so much. God packs these 12 verses with so much. God packs these 12 verses with so much. Part of Moses' strength was who he was Part of Moses' strength was who he was Part of Moses' strength was who he was when he died. He is called a prophet, a when he died. He is called a prophet, a when he died. He is called a prophet, a servant, and a friend of God. That's a servant, and a friend of God. That's a servant, and a friend of God. That's a holy trinity for anyone to pursue for holy trinity for anyone to pursue for holy trinity for anyone to pursue for their own obituary. That's dying their own obituary. That's dying their own obituary. That's dying spiritually on top. We are told in verse spiritually on top. We are told in verse spiritually on top. We are told in verse 5, so Moses, a servant of the Lord, died 5, so Moses, a servant of the Lord, died 5, so Moses, a servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab according to there in the land of Moab according to there in the land of Moab according to the word of the Lord. He is a servant.

the word of the Lord. He is a servant. the word of the Lord. He is a servant. We are told in verse 10, since that time We are told in verse 10, since that time We are told in verse 10, since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like no prophet has risen in Israel like no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses whom the Lord knew face-to-face. Moses whom the Lord knew face-to-face. Moses whom the Lord knew face-to-face. He is a voice for God and a friend of He is a voice for God and a friend of He is a voice for God and a friend of heaven. heaven. heaven. But though he left strong, I think there But though he left strong, I think there But though he left strong, I think there had to be a sting of regret in this had to be a sting of regret in this had to be a sting of regret in this prophet, friend, and servant. prophet, friend, and servant. prophet, friend, and servant. God reiterates something that was God reiterates something that was God reiterates something that was sensitive. It was like touching a fresh sensitive. It was like touching a fresh sensitive. It was like touching a fresh wound. God would show him the land that wound. God would show him the land that wound. God would show him the land that he would not enter into in this life. he would not enter into in this life. he would not enter into in this life. God's words pricked a sensitive place God's words pricked a sensitive place God's words pricked a sensitive place for Moses when he said in verse 4, "This for Moses when he said in verse 4, "This for Moses when he said in verse 4, "This is the land I promised on oath to is the land I promised on oath to is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said I Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said I Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said I will give it to your descendants. I have will give it to your descendants. I have will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you let you see it with your eyes, but you let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it. will not cross over into it. will not cross over into it. I will let you see it with your eyes, I will let you see it with your eyes, I will let you see it with your eyes, but your feet will not touch it in this but your feet will not touch it in this but your feet will not touch it in this life. life. life. At least not yet. At least not yet. At least not yet. Enter Enter Enter the best field trip ever. the best field trip ever. the best field trip ever. In his excellent little book, When Loved In his excellent little book, When Loved In his excellent little book, When Loved Ones Are Taken in Death, Lehman Strauss Ones Are Taken in Death, Lehman Strauss Ones Are Taken in Death, Lehman Strauss made some interesting comments about the made some interesting comments about the made some interesting comments about the Greek word translated departure, which Greek word translated departure, which Greek word translated departure, which we would say death.

we would say death. we would say death. I like the Greek word better than ours. I like the Greek word better than ours. I like the Greek word better than ours. He wrote these words, "It is used He wrote these words, "It is used He wrote these words, "It is used metaphorically in a nautical way as when metaphorically in a nautical way as when metaphorically in a nautical way as when a vessel pulls up anchor a vessel pulls up anchor a vessel pulls up anchor to loose from its moorings and set sail, to loose from its moorings and set sail, to loose from its moorings and set sail, or in a military way as when an army or in a military way as when an army or in a military way as when an army breaks encampment to move on. That is breaks encampment to move on. That is breaks encampment to move on. That is what death is as described to us in the what death is as described to us in the what death is as described to us in the Bible. Here we are anchored to the Bible. Here we are anchored to the Bible. Here we are anchored to the hardships and heartaches of this life. hardships and heartaches of this life. hardships and heartaches of this life. In death, the gangway is raised, the In death, the gangway is raised, the In death, the gangway is raised, the anchor is weighed, and we set sail for anchor is weighed, and we set sail for anchor is weighed, and we set sail for the golden shore. In death, we break the golden shore. In death, we break the golden shore. In death, we break camp here to start for heaven. Moses the camp here to start for heaven. Moses the camp here to start for heaven. Moses the sailor, the soldier, is making a sailor, the soldier, is making a sailor, the soldier, is making a journey. He will go to heaven, but journey. He will go to heaven, but journey. He will go to heaven, but heaven surprises him one day. heaven surprises him one day. heaven surprises him one day. Two of my favorite field trips from my Two of my favorite field trips from my Two of my favorite field trips from my childhood that I remember was seeing The childhood that I remember was seeing The childhood that I remember was seeing The Sound of Music on a big screen at Radio Sound of Music on a big screen at Radio Sound of Music on a big screen at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and City Music Hall in New York City, and City Music Hall in New York City, and going to Philadelphia to see all of the going to Philadelphia to see all of the going to Philadelphia to see all of the historic sites. historic sites. historic sites. Moses had a field trip to top them all.

Moses had a field trip to top them all. Moses had a field trip to top them all. There was a field trip that would happen There was a field trip that would happen There was a field trip that would happen after Moses' death that is pretty after Moses' death that is pretty after Moses' death that is pretty spectacular. spectacular. spectacular. God took Moses to heaven, but there was God took Moses to heaven, but there was God took Moses to heaven, but there was a moment that God would take Moses on a a moment that God would take Moses on a a moment that God would take Moses on a field trip back to Earth. field trip back to Earth. field trip back to Earth. God tells Moses emphatically, "You can God tells Moses emphatically, "You can God tells Moses emphatically, "You can see the land with your eyes, but you see the land with your eyes, but you see the land with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." shall not go over there." shall not go over there." Whether you call it the mercy of God or Whether you call it the mercy of God or Whether you call it the mercy of God or the generosity of God, it had to shock the generosity of God, it had to shock the generosity of God, it had to shock heaven and God's friend. heaven and God's friend. heaven and God's friend. God says one day to Moses, "We're going God says one day to Moses, "We're going God says one day to Moses, "We're going on a field trip." "Where?" Moses asks. on a field trip." "Where?" Moses asks. on a field trip." "Where?" Moses asks. "I can't tell you, but you're going to "I can't tell you, but you're going to "I can't tell you, but you're going to love it." God responds. love it." God responds. love it." God responds. Moses asks, "Well, who's going?" "You Moses asks, "Well, who's going?" "You Moses asks, "Well, who's going?" "You and Elijah. No more questions, no and Elijah. No more questions, no and Elijah. No more questions, no permission slips needed. We're going to permission slips needed. We're going to permission slips needed. We're going to meet someone there." meet someone there." meet someone there." Then this happens in Luke 9:28. Then this happens in Luke 9:28. Then this happens in Luke 9:28. Some eight days after these sayings, he Some eight days after these sayings, he Some eight days after these sayings, he took along Peter, John, and James and took along Peter, John, and James and took along Peter, John, and James and went up to the mountain to pray. And went up to the mountain to pray. And went up to the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of while he was praying, the appearance of while he was praying, the appearance of his face became different and his his face became different and his his face became different and his clothing became white and gleaming. And clothing became white and gleaming. And clothing became white and gleaming. And behold, two men were talking with him, behold, two men were talking with him, behold, two men were talking with him, and they were Moses and Elijah, who were and they were Moses and Elijah, who were and they were Moses and Elijah, who were appearing in glory, were speaking of his appearing in glory, were speaking of his appearing in glory, were speaking of his departure, which he was which he was departure, which he was which he was departure, which he was which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

about to accomplish at Jerusalem. about to accomplish at Jerusalem. I don't think God was going back on his I don't think God was going back on his I don't think God was going back on his word. I think God was simply saying, word. I think God was simply saying, word. I think God was simply saying, "What you couldn't do on Earth, you can "What you couldn't do on Earth, you can "What you couldn't do on Earth, you can do it from heaven." Those earthly feet do it from heaven." Those earthly feet do it from heaven." Those earthly feet couldn't go in, but these new heavenly couldn't go in, but these new heavenly couldn't go in, but these new heavenly feet are made for Mount Tabor. feet are made for Mount Tabor. feet are made for Mount Tabor. God took his friend God took his friend God took his friend to the promised land. to the promised land. to the promised land. Mount Tabor and Mount Nebo are separated Mount Tabor and Mount Nebo are separated Mount Tabor and Mount Nebo are separated by about 75 to 80 mi, 120 to 130 km. by about 75 to 80 mi, 120 to 130 km. by about 75 to 80 mi, 120 to 130 km. Better than going in with Israel, Moses Better than going in with Israel, Moses Better than going in with Israel, Moses got to go with Elijah and talk with got to go with Elijah and talk with got to go with Elijah and talk with Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. That was the best field trip ever. That was the best field trip ever. That was the best field trip ever. God is good, and God God is good, and God God is good, and God looks out for his friends. looks out for his friends. looks out for his friends. Thank you for joining Chapter by Thank you for joining Chapter by Thank you for joining Chapter by Chapter. Every chapter from the greatest Chapter. Every chapter from the greatest Chapter. Every chapter from the greatest book, the Bible, the word of God. 7 book, the Bible, the word of God. 7 book, the Bible, the word of God. 7 minutes a day, 7 days a week. We'll see minutes a day, 7 days a week. We'll see minutes a day, 7 days a week. We'll see you tomorrow.