Deuteronomy 32:48-52--Moses' Death Foretold

Deuteronomy 32:48-52
English Standard Version
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Moses' Death Foretold
48 That very day the LORD spoke to Moses, 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. 50 And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, 51 because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.”

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Before Moses was to die, the LORD let him look on the Promised Land that he would not enter--remember it was because of his sin of striking the rock when he was told to speak to the rock when the LORD was going to provide water for the people (an issue with his anger that he's dealt with his whole life, but this time it was a big deal because it was interfering with the LORD trying to show His people something about Christ--that He would only be struck once and then all we need to do is pray to Him to receive everything that we need).  The LORD still made a way through the Holy Spirit to explain this to us many years later in the New Testament, but it does make it harder to see.

Up to this point Moses has been trying to blame the people in a sense saying "You provoked me to anger and caused me to sin," but the LORD did not lay the blame on the people, but squarely on Moses.  In fact, the LORD tried to put safety measures in place by telling Moses to take others with him who would help him to control his anger, but they also failed in their duty.

This was the end of Moses leading the people and Moses went up on Mount Nebo to die and "be gathered to his people" (his spirit went to Paradise like the rest of the saved Old Testament saints), but the LORD will take Moses' body and bury it Himself so that it would not become a temptation for the people to worship it.  The LORD has been gracious in allowing Moses to speak one last time to to the people and in giving him the chance to see the Promised Land before his death, though he would not enter it.