he gave the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh the privilege of taking up their abode on the east side of the Jordan ( Numbers 32:1-42 );
he wrote the journeyings of the children of Israel ( Numbers 33:1-49 );
he described the borders of the land of promise ( Numbers 34:1-29 );
Priest. He acted as priest during the temporary worship at Mount Sinai ( Exodus 24:1-8 ), and at the consecration of Aaron and his sons ( Leviticus 8:1-30 ).
Poet. He composed,
the song of triumph when they crossed the sea ( Exodus 15:1-19 ),
a song of gratitude in the wilderness ( Nehemiah 21:15-18 ),
His Character. Moses' character was many-sided. There are incidents in his life that exhibit every trait of the high, the pure, the noble:
His refusal to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and his choice to suffer affliction with the people of God establishes the fact that he greatly loved his brethren ( Exodus 2:11Exodus 2:12 ; Hebrews 11:23-27 );
his attempt to be excused from the leadership of his people proves that he was a man of humbleness of mind ( Exodus 3:7-22 ; Exodus 4:1-13 );
his address to the people at the Red Sea, while the Egyptians were sweeping down upon them, establishes the fact that he was a man of extraordinary faith ( Exodus 14:13-18 );
his sitting to hear all the complaints of Israel and passing judgment upon them from morning until night proves that he possessed great perseverance ( Exodus 18:13 );
his acceptance of the advice of his father-in-law in reference to the government of the people establishes the fact that he was progressive ( Exodus 18:17-27 );
his conduct at Mount Sinai in the destruction of the golden calf and its worshippers proves that he was aggressive ( Exodus 32:19-28 );
his fervent petition to the Lord to spare Israel even when God promised, on their destruction, to make of him a great nation proves his utter unselfishness ( Exodus 32:9-13 );
his refusal to rebuke Eldad and Medad for prophesying proves that he was free from envy ( Numbers 11:27-29 );
his prayer to the Lord to forgive his sister Miriam when she had grievously sinned against him proves that he was meek and forgiving in an eminent degree ( Numbers 12:1-13 );
his conduct in suppressing the insurrection inaugurated by Korah establishes the fact that he was a man of extraordinary courage ( Numbers 16:1-40 ).
His Great Opportunities. Moses enjoyed immense advantages,
he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians ( Acts 7:22 );
he received a commission directly from Jehovah ( Exodus 3:7-12 );
His Disobedience. Moses was honored above all his contemporaries, and in many respects stands above every generation, and yet God shut him out of the land of promise on the account of one sin ( Numbers 20:1-13 ).
Important Observation on His Disobedience. Beware!
Historian. He not only gave the law, but he gave the history of his people and the history of the world, in brief, from the beginning. That he received the revelations that are attributed to him, there can be no doubt.
Over and over again it is asserted that "the Lord spake unto Moses";
he was recognized in the days of Malachi ( Malachi 4:4 );
and John the apostle asserts that the law came by Moses ( John 1:17 ).
Sources of His Information. Apart from the fact that Moses had direct communication with the Lord, it is easy to see that he could have received the history of the early ages through only a few persons:
Adam was (130 + 105 + 90 + 70 + 65 + 162 + 65 = 687) six hundred and eighty-seven years old at the birth of Methuselah ( Genesis 5:3-21 ).
Adam lived (930) nine hundred and thirty years ( Genesis 5:5 ), or (930 - 687 = 248) two hundred and forty-three years after the birth of Methuselah.
Methuselah lived (960) nine hundred and sixty-nine years ( Genesis 5:27 ), or (969 - 243 = 726) seven hundred and twenty-six years after the death of Adam.
Adam and Methuselah were contemporary (969 - 726 = 243) two hundred and forty-three years.
Again, Methuselah was (187 + 182 + 500 = 869) eight hundred and sixty-nine years old at the birth of Shem ( Genesis 5:25-32 ).
Methuselah lived (969) nine hundred and sixty-nine years ( Genesis 5:27 ), or (969 - 869 = 100) one hundred years after the birth of Shem.
Shem lived (602) six hundred and two years ( Genesis 11:10Genesis 11:11 ), or (602 - 100 = 502) five hundred and two years after the death of Methuselah and Shem were contemporary one hundred years.
Again, Shem was (102 + 35 + 30 + 34 + 30 + 32 + 30 + 29 + 205 + 25 = 552) five hundred and fifty-two years old at the birth of Isaac ( Genesis 11:10-32 ; Genesis 12:1-14:24 ; Genesis 21:5 ).
Shem lived (602) six hundred and two years ( Genesis 11:10Genesis 11:11 ), or (602 - 552 = 50) fifty years after the birth of Isaac.
Isaac lived (180) one hundred and eighty years ( Genesis 35:28 ), or (180 - 50 = 130) one hundred and thirty years after the death of Shem.
Shem and Isaac were contemporary (180 - 130 = 50) fifty years.
Again, Isaac was (60 + 91 = 151) one hundred and fifty-one years old at the birth of Joseph ( Genesis 25:26 ; Genesis 41:46-54 ; Genesis 45:6-11 ; Genesis 47:9 ). (m) Isaac lived (180) one hundred and eighty years ( Genesis 35:28 ), or (180 - 151 = 29) twenty-nine years after the birth of Joseph.
Joseph lived (110) one hundred and teen years ( Genesis 50:26 ), or (110 - 29 = 81) eighty-one years after the death of Isaac.
Isaac and Joseph were contemporary (110 - 91 = 29) twenty-nine years.
Methuselah was contemporary with Adam two hundred and forty-three years;
Shem was contemporary with Methuselah one hundred years;
Isaac was contemporary with Shem fifty years;
Joseph was contemporary with Isaac twenty-nine years.
His Death. He died on Mount Pisgah, and was buried by theLord in a valley in the land of Moab, and his grave was forever hidden from human sight ( Deuteronomy 34:1-7 ).
Entrance into the Promised Land. Prohibited from entering the promised land with his brethren on the account of sin, he at last stood upon the mountain in the beloved country in company with Elijah, Peter, James, John and the Lord Jesus ( Matthew 17:1-13 ).