Deu 34:10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.

Inscribed here, by God, at the end of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ epitaph. An epitaph is a short piece of message written in memory of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone like: R.I.P., ..He was a good father and husband, …our little angel,…a devoted wife and mother, …a true friend, and others.

But Moses did not have a headstone for his epitaph. He was buried by God. No one knew where he was buried and so no one could possibly write any epitaph on his tombstone. So God took it upon Himself to write one for His faithful servant Moses. And He put it here at the end of Deuteronomy, to be read by all men for all ages: And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.

There are three lessons we can glean about Moses from his epitaph.

1) Faithful – “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses”

Moses excelled above many others before him who had served God. Remember, it was God who appraised Moses and wrote these words: “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses”. Will God write the same about us when we die? The first two servants in a parable spoken by Jesus had this commendation from their Master: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

It is not how others but God that think about us that is important: “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth” (2 Corinthians 10:18). We may brag about our works or others may praise us highly for our works but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.

2) Relationship – “…whom the LORD knew face to face.”

Moses had a personal relationship with God. He knew God and God knew him. The Bible says: “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11). God and Moses talked like they were good friends. Can it be said of you too? Is God your bosom friend?

God also knew Job. Concerning Job, God said: “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (Job 1:8).

One of the great problems in today's Christians is that we have many who know about God but few who know God intimately. Let us desire the same conviction as the apostle Paul who said: “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:11).

3) Hope - God remembers His workers.

God knows His workers. He knows what kind of workers we are. He is constantly appraising our works. Man may forget our works but not God. To each of the seven churches in Revelations, our Lord says: “I know thy works” (Revelations 2:2, 9, 13, 19). The Scripture says: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). God remembers His workers.

Do you have a close relationship with God? If God were to write an epitaph on your tombstone, what would He have written? 

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.