Joshua Replaces Moses
Deuteronomy 30-31
Joshua Replaces Moses, Deuteronomy 30-31. As the book of Deuteronomy draws to a close, the time has come for Moses to relinquish his leadership over the children of Israel and to hand it over to God's newly appointed leader, Joshua.
1 So Moses continued to
speak these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them, “I am 120 years
old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said
to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God himself
will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so
that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as
the Lord has spoken. 4 And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Armorites,
and to their land, when he destroyed them. 5 And the Lord will give
them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole
commandment that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do
not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes
with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:1-6, ESV
Joshua Replaces Moses
Deuteronomy 30-31
As the book of Deuteronomy draws to a close, the time has come for Moses to relinquish his leadership over the children of Israel and to hand it over to God's newly appointed leader, Joshua.
I
have been pondering the transition that is about to occur for the
children of Israel, when Joshua replaces Moses, especially in light of the fact that when I originally wrote this devotional, it was an election year in my country. No matter what the results of our election, we
will have a new president. Even our economy seems to be in a
conservative holding pattern, waiting to see how our country will fare
under new leadership.
What
about the Israelites? Do you think they may have been feeling
especially vulnerable knowing that the conquest of their new land was
just beginning, and they would be doing so under new leadership?
It
seems as though Moses may have anticipated this feeling among the
people, and for Joshua as well, when he spoke the following words to
Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:7 & 8.
Then
Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be
strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land
that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put
them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will
be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be
dismayed.”
Though
this was spoken to Joshua at a very critical time for the Israelites,
the message is very appropriate for us today. What about our lives? Are
we approaching a time of transition? Maybe it is marriage, a new baby,
purchasing a new home, starting a new career, facing a soon-to-be empty
nest, the death of a spouse or family member, etc.
As
you face the "changing of the guard" in your own life, situation, or
country, pray that God will help you to ponder Moses' words to Joshua.
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
In our ever changing world, the Christian always has the hope and support of an unchanging God! Just as during the time when Joshua replaces Moses, God was constantly at their side, so do we have the same promise of God's presence with us. With the Lord, we have everything. Without the Lord we have nothing!
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