The Sunday of the Transfiguration (OTA)

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, ² all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, ³ the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. ⁴ And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” ⁵ So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, ⁶ and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. ⁷ Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. ⁸ And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. 

⁹ And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. ¹⁰ And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, ¹¹ none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, ¹² and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. 

Moses is unable to enter the Promised Land with the people because of his own actions.  He did not trust in the Word of God, even as the one who commanded others to believe.  Now, since Moses can not enter the Promise Land, God offers him a glimpse of the Promise Land.  It is truly a foretaste of things to come.

Moses is taken up on a Mountain by the Lord.  The Lord shows Moses all the land.  He offers Moses a glimpse of the promise fulfilled.  It is upon this mountain, Moses dies.  Moses lived for 120 years and yet had the vigor of a youth.  He does not die of old age or lack of use, but dies because he can not enter with his people into the Promise Land.

There are many leaders of the people of Israel have lacked trust in God from time to time.  All of us will fail to trust in God completely and even fail to heed his Word always.  God prevented Moses from entering into the Promise Land and so God only allows leaders to lead for so long.  Eventually they will all die and be taken into heaven.  But Moses will enter into everlasting Life, with Elijah, and with you.

It is not because of their disobedience or lack of faith, or even because they once lead the Israelites.  It is because they believed in the eternal hope of God.  God gave them a promise of everlasting life.  He established that promise through the Word Made flesh, which he revealed to both Moses and Elijah.

"And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face," until the Son of God put on flesh and revealed the Lord face to face with his people.