I have such mixed emotions about Moses not going into the promised land. My first reaction is, “How sad!” Moses worked so hard to get the people to this place to go in, and then he is not able to go with them and experience the fulfillment of God’s promise. But on further reflection, once again, I see the great wisdom and graciousness of God in the detail.
First, of course is the consistency of God’s character exhibited. Think of all the detail of the instructions that God gave Moses to lead the people. And think about the consequences of their disobedience. So too, God had given Moses very detailed instructions (Numbers 20) about getting water from the rock for the people. He was supposed to speak to the rock. Moses struck the rock. This was clearly disobedient. There were consequences for Moses, the leader, just as there were for the people.
Yet, upon even deeper reflection, I see the possible tenderness of God’s grace displayed in what at first view looks like sheer punishment. First, in chapter 34, we find out that Moses did get to “see” the promised land. Graciously, God directs him to Mount Nebo where he was able to see the “whole land” with his own eyes! What a gift! It was no pipe dream. God really had prepared a place for his people and now they were at the door ready to enter it!
But there is another possible grace of God revealed here. Moses was very old. The remaining work to enter, and parcel out, and conquer the land was very likely much more than Moses would have been able to physically endure. The Lord allowed him to help identify and prepare the new leader for Israel–Joshua. Moses had seen Joshua’s faithful character and must have been very pleased to know that the Lord had such a person to carry on the task of leading the people.
Even more gracious, perhaps, is what the Lord prevented Moses from seeing and experiencing–the rebellion and disobedience of the nation that would lead to their destruction. After forty years of leading them whining and rebelling through the wilderness, and finally making there, I wonder if Moses would have died of a broken heart to see them spurn the love and providence of God? I wonder if God knew that Moses had suffered enough from leading this stiff-knecked people, and spared him that heart ache? The Lord told him they would turn away (ch. 31:14ff) but to actually see it might have been more than Moses could bear! Perhaps this “punishment” really was the merciful deliverance of a kind and loving Father.