Numbers 27:12 - Meaning and Application

Here, God tells Moses about his fault, his speaking carelessly at the waters of strife. Moses did not show, as carefully as he should have, proper respect for God’s honor and for Israel’s good (Numbers 27:14). Though Moses was the Lord’s servant, and a faithful one, he still once broke God’s command and failed in his duty. Though he was highly honored and deeply favored, he must hear of his failure, and the whole world must hear of it too, again and again.

God will show his displeasure against sin, even in those who are nearest and dearest to him. So those who are known for wisdom and honor need to watch their words and actions closely. Otherwise, they may do or say something that hurts their peace, their reputation, or both, long afterward.

God also tells Moses about his death. His death was the punishment for his sin, yet the news comes in a way meant to soften the sentence and help him accept it. Moses must die, but first he will have the joy of seeing the land of promise (Numbers 27:12). God did not mean this sight of Canaan to mock him or remind him of the mistake that kept him out of it. Moses took it as a kindness, and we can think his sight was greatly strengthened so he could see the land clearly and fully. That view of Canaan also pointed to his faith-filled hope of the better country, that is, the heavenly one, which is a great comfort to believers who are dying.

Moses must die, but death would not cut him off from God’s people. It would only gather him to rest with the holy patriarchs who had gone before him. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were his people, the people he had chosen and loved, and death would bring Moses to them. Moses must also die as Aaron, his brother and Israel’s first high priest, had died before him (Numbers 27:13). Moses had seen how calmly and willingly Aaron laid aside both his priesthood and then his body, so he should not fear death.

The death of our close relations should teach us two things. First, it should make us think often about dying, since we are no better than our fathers or brothers. If they are gone, we are going too. If they have already been gathered, we will be gathered soon as well. Second, it should help us think about death without terror, and even make us ready to welcome the thought of it. If we live as they lived, we may die as they died. Their end was peace, and they finished their course with joy. So why should we fear anything in that dark valley?