Deuteronomy 33- Joshua 2
The Death of An Old Servant and the Rise of A New One

It must have been a clear day when Moses stood high atop Mount Nebo to view the land on some days he may have at times thought he would ever see-Canaan. It was a land "flowing with milk and honey." It must have been an exhilarating moment for the 120 year-old man, who despite his age, was as strong as a young man (Deuteronomy 34). He had fulfilled his task. He had, in the words of the apostle Paul, "Fought the good fight" and "finished the race" (2 Timothy 4:7). He had not been perfect. His sin at Meribah (Numbers 20) would have weighed heavily on his mind, especially at this moment. It was for that sin that he was forbidden by the LORD entrance into this land. Still, God's mercy was great. God had done what He had promised to do-He had brought them out of bondage into a good land. At his death, the people mourned for 30 days (34:8). What would they do? The only human leader any of them, except Joshua and Caleb, had ever known was gone.

God, of course, provided for His people. As Joshua assumed leadership of the LORD's people, God told Joshua, "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you" (Joshua 1:5). Though he was no spring chicken himself, Joshua completed the task Moses had started. And, at his death, the people again must have wept.

John the baptizer said of Christ in John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease." That is the way of life-increasing, decreasing; coming, going; life and death. It is proper and right for us to mourn at the passing of great, spiritual people in our lives. Those people who have meant so much to us and shaped our lives for-literally-all eternity. It is hard to say goodbye to good people we depend upon and look to always. In the New Testament, the early church wept at the death of Stephen (Acts 8:2) and Dorcas (Acts 9:39). It is natural for us to begin wondering just how we will get by when parents, grandparents, elders, teachers or even preachers we have depended on for spiritual guidance are no longer with us. But, after Moses, there was Joshua; after Joshua, the judges, and after the judges, the kings. Ultimately, Jesus Christ came to lead us, and since His death, again God has used lowly men and women to move His people along. When the Lord's people look to Him, He always sends someone they can depend on for guidance and service. One generation gives great service that will be sorely missed at their passing, but another rises up with great potential; God still sends people to lead those who trust in Him.

Perhaps it should be noted, too, that if we are not careful, we begin to believe that so many things depend on us, and we escalate our own self-worth. While we may serve in important ways, let us not think we are indispensable in the kingdom. That breeds pride and resentment of others. Let us rejoice when the LORD sends new elders, preachers, teachers, songleaders, etc. After all, that is the order of things.