“A Happy Ending”

In today’s mass reading (Deut. 34:1-12) Moses is denied entry into the Promised land. At first glance it seems that Moses is getting a “raw deal”.  After all the trials and tribulations he endured in leading the Israelites out of Egypt, and now this. God himself had praised Moses in the highest ways: 

• “no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He had no equal in all the signs and wonders the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt.” (Deut. 34:1-12)
• “throughout my house he (Moses) bears my trust: face to face I speak to him; plainly and not in riddles. The presence of the Lord he beholds.” (Num. 12:1-13)

The Lord ends the conversation with Moses by saying, “ I have let you feast your eyes upon the Promised Land, but you shall not cross over.” So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the Lord, died as the Lord had said; and he was buried in the land of Moab….. ”(Deut. 34:1-12) 

Wow, this is such a moving and touching moment. God’s close friend dies without entering the promised land. Clearly Moses committed a major sin against God when he struck the rock twice to get water for the Israelites… much more serious than meets the eye. But is this how their great relationship ends?

In the short term, this seems like a tragic end to this magnificent story. Yet, it doesn’t end there. It’s interesting that the scripture says that “Moses was buried in the land of Moab, but to this day no one knows the place of his burial.” (ibid) Gee, no one knows where he was buried. Who buried Moses……did God or his angels tenderly bury Moses? It’s not clear, but we do know that Moses was dear to the Lord and that God does not abandon his own. 

This was certainly not the last mention of Moses in the scripture. He makes another appearance at the Transfiguration of Jesus. He joins Jesus, along with Elijah, and the apostles Peter, James, and John…. with God the Father. (Mt. 17:1-6) It appears that Moses still spoke “face to face with God and bore his trust.” 

So God did not abandon Moses on a mountain top in the land of Moab. The story of Moses does not end tragically….. it ends well. So too for us, there may be moments where it seems that the Lord has had enough of us….but he does not abandon his own who are called by his name. This should fill us with hope. God loves us with an everlasting love. And that is very good news.