Deuteronomy 34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the L ORD showed him the whole land— from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea,

3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the L ORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

5 And Moses the servant of the L ORD died there in Moab, as the L ORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.

7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

Deuteronomy The Realities of Life It’s great to talk about… The fun events Good times Unique or interesting things

Not so exciting to talk about… Things that comprise most of our lives Boring, sad, uninteresting or painful Failure Death and change Grief

Failure was expected It was no surprise to God that his people would fail We know this from his plans

Deuteronomy 29 9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. 10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the L ORD your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, 11 together with your children and your wives, and the aliens living in your camps…

God knew his people would fail to keep the covenant God has two plans A call to return; to repent A reading of the law -- in public and aloud every seven years

Deuteronomy 30 2 and when you and your children return to the L ORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the L ORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.

4 Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the L ORD your God will gather you and bring you back. 5 He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.

Deuteronomy Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the L ORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.

12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the L ORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the L ORD your God…

If you hear the law at least once every seven years Maybe you will remain faithful But if (when) you fail, God will have compassion if you repent

Death and change A natural part of life It is not easy Never timely We are never prepared

Deuteronomy On that same day the L ORD told Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession.

Deuteronomy 34 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.

Death brings about change It was an unwelcomed change Change scares us It can be intimidating

Deuteronomy Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the L ORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the L ORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Deuteronomy The L ORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”

The death of Moses brought change A new leader Intimidation That’s not the way Moses did it Unrealistic expectations Fears and concerns

Deuteronomy 34 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the L ORD had commanded Moses.

Even with God’s blessing Even with Moses’ blessing Even with the Spirit of God involved Change was not going to be easy

Grief is how we express loss Sadness Depression Anxiety Loneliness

Deuteronomy 34 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

There are the official mourning times But we are all different Many of us weep and mourn for years

Some things are very constant in the Old and the New Testament Failure Death and change And grief

Putting it all together Failure is inevitable and is to be expected Failure is important and necessary We do not have to stay in failure We need to stop thinking about life in terms of failure In terms of practicing living

Putting it all together Change is difficult for us We become accustomed to life in a particular time and place The ability to adjust says a lot about us Change happens; nothing stay the same No one is replaceable, yet everyone is replaceable

Putting it all together Death is a natural process Grief is also a natural process Grief is not an illness Grief can take weeks or years It can not be manipulated It says I cared

Failure Death and change Grief Realities we all experience They make us who we are