LESSON 7: The Death of Moses

(Deuteronomy Chapter 34)

A long time ago, after forty years of dusty roads and desert camping, God’s people—the Israelites—set up their tents on the plains of Moab. They were finally standing right across from the land God had promised their ancestors: Canaan, a good and beautiful land.

Their leader, Moses, had walked with them every step of the way. He prayed for them, taught them God’s laws, and trusted God—even when things were hard. Moses wasn’t perfect, but he was faithful.

One day, God spoke to Moses:

“Go up Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah. I will show you the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” God showed him the land of Canaan—the land He had promised to the Israelites.

Moses climbed the mountain. From the top, God let him see everything—the valleys, the rivers, the towns, the fields. Moses looked out and saw the future home of the people he loved.

But God told Moses something difficult:

“You will see the land, but you will not enter it.”
Why? Long before, at a place called Meribah, Moses had disobeyed God (Numbers 20:1–13). God is holy, and He wanted Moses to obey Him exactly. Even so, God still loved Moses and was pleased with how he had led His people.

Then, on that mountain, Moses died peacefully at the age of 120 years. The Bible says his eyes were not weak, and his strength had not left him. And something very special happened: God Himself buried Moses in the land of Moab, and no one knows where his grave is to this day.

The Israelites cried and mourned for Moses for 30 days. They remembered him as the leader who talked with God like a friend.

But Moses’ story didn’t end there.
In Jude 9, we read about the angel Michael and Satan arguing over Moses’ body—a mysterious moment that shows how important Moses was in God’s plan.

And later, in the New Testament, Moses appears again! In Mark 9:4, during the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah stand with Jesus on a mountain, shining with God’s glory. Moses is alive with God!

Jesus gives us a promise in John 11:25:

“He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.”

Moses believed—and lived with God. And we can too, when we put our trust in Jesus.