May 18, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy? Here’s today’s reading:
Deuteronomy 31 (NIV)
Joshua to Succeed Moses
1 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2“I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said........Continue Reading
Multiple reminders in this chapter for God’s people to be strong and courageous and to trust that God is with them!
God knows how easily we fall to pressure, impatience, and our own stubborn ways and He reminds us that the road to follow Him takes courage and setting ourselves apart from what the majority may be doing.
Deut 31
Deut 31
Deuteronomy 30 & 31
Interesting
Deuteronomy 31
Deut 32-33
So Moses time is coming to an end and a few things happen because of it. First and foremost a new leader is identified and Joshua, who has been Moses’ right hand man all along, is chosen. God brings them both before the tent of meeting to mark the transition of power and to show that Joshua has God’s hand on Him. Second Moses gives final encouragement and instruction. Be strong and courageous because the Lord goes with you is as pertinent today as it was then. They would be entering the promised land and would engage in battle peoples who were stronger and bigger than them. They would need to choose between fear and faith and believe God to be even bigger and stronger still. We face our challenges as well and fear comes up. Well we too can be strong and courageous because the Lord is with us.
Third Moses writes the law down and gives instruction about how it should be read to all the people. They were always to have the law before them, but there would also be special times when the whole community would come together and have the law read by the Levites. They would not be able to say they didn’t know who God was and what He expected of them. And fourth, Moses warns of the upcoming turning from God and the clear description of what God will do because of it. He knew what kind of people they were and wanted Joshua to be prepared as well. They will falter most when Joshua passes and no strong leader takes over and then in the times of the kings will follow or disobey based on the kings relative obedience. How sad that they would not follow the Lord the way God wanted and the way they should, but they would not be able to say they didn’t know better. How true is that of us?
Moses cannot cross the Jordan. Joshua is inaugurated as his successor by God. Moses reminds the Israelites of their covenant, tells them to repeat it to each other and their children, and foretells their rebellion.
These verses are also given to Joshua in the beginning of Joshua and later in chapter 10 (where we just studied on Tuesday).
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
I love how God’s word defines itself:
synonyms: strong, courageous (physical and mental strength).
antonyms: fear, afraid, dismayed.
synonyms: The Lord goes with you, He goes before you, He will be with you.
antonyms: He will not leave you, will not forsake you. Again, He will not leave you, nor forsake you.
12Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. 27For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 28Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them. 29For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”