Just as the Pharoahs of the Colorado coal fields are doing today, Pharoah of Egypt hardened his heart, until the climax of the struggle came in his cry of rage, “Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more: for in the day thou seest my face, thou shalt die!” And Moses said, “Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face no more.” ...
So Moses leads his people out into the wilderness of freedom....
Years passed, and the wilderness was whitened with the bones of the slaves, whose free-born children grew up to higher manhood under their aged leader’s constant counsels and warnings. At last the time came when they were fit to take a place among the nations of the earth, and the pillar of fire and of cloud turns and drifts toward Canaan.
With what longing the old man’s heart looked toward the land of promise, the first fixed abiding place life seemed to offer, we can gather from his own confession. But it was not to be. His course was run. He was a strike leader, a nation-molder, a law-giver, not a military conqueror. When the tribes reach the desert and look down into the green valley of the Jordan, they are called together to hear his parting words. On the slopes of Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, after the antiphonal chanting of the blessings and curses, and the sounding of the trumpets of the Levites, the dying leader stands for the last time before his people, delivers the matchless farewell address recorded in Deuteronomy, blesses them, and passes from their sight forever, up into the solitude of the mountain peaks....
“And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses....”
Dear God! The desert wandering is done,
A fixed abode has come to all—but one!
Command the muses of the sacred well
Say paeans for the sons of Israel!
But turn, oh, turn their silent lips away,