Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: “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.’ 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. And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Scripture Notes

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A change in power, a transition in life, or a new chapter beginning are all representative of significant life changes, and often, if not always, we struggle with adapting to a new environment. Here we find Moses passing over the mantle of leadership to Joshua.  This change is not unknown to the people of Israel; they have been preparing for it for some time, but they remain apprehensive.  Moses had led the people for so many years that the purpose was lost behind the adoration of the person.  Instead of Moses leading the people, God will go before them, again, reclaiming his rightful place as the ultimate leader, something the people of Israel had lost their perspective of more than once.

Was it right that Moses was forbidden to reach the promised land? Should leaders be held to a higher standard? It seems as though God is reminding us that the promised land is ultimately with him in heaven. David did not see the completion of the Temple, and yet both Moses and David are revered from generation to generation as highly praised leaders. Not reaching the pinnacle of success on earth does not mean we have failed.  Leadership is significant, and there are weightier consequences for misleading and misrepresenting Christ. We must also understand that leaders on earth are replaceable, but God is eternal. Pastors, politicians, and personalities become lofted higher than they ought, and too often, we are willing to sacrifice for a person rather than a purpose.  

When God goes before His people, he will clear the way, destroying the nations that inhabit the promised land and enabling them to take possession of it. Joshua is the figurehead, the entrusted leader on earth, but always secondary to God. We are reminded to keep God at the forefront of our world, not human leaders. They will come and go, but He is steadfast. And yet, God also reminds the people to do what He has commanded them, to follow the Law and not seek out and worship gods other than Himself. Giving in to societal influence is easier than acting against what is trending or what is normalized. It takes a strong will, and it does require sacrifice. 

But the Lord does not leave the people with simply a command to follow rules.  He builds them up, calling them to be strong and courageous and not to give in to fear. Fear leads people backward, returning to a point in their past where they felt secure.  This leads to a return to old ways, mindsets, and beliefs. But we are not called to be afraid; we are called to be brave, to be courageous, to do what we fear to do, regardless of our trembling. We do not act alone for God says he will be with us.

After telling the people to be strong and courageous, God turns to Joshua, His earthly appointee, to directly instill in him the confidence of faith and courage.  Why does God speak to Joshua directly? It serves as an important reminder for those stepping into leadership, especially those who follow in another’s footsteps, that where another leader had ignorance in the unknown, the new leader has seen the consequences of misrepresentation and understands that they are replaceable. This should serve as a good reminder for all of us of the humble nature of our circumstances. We must not be discouraged by what the world says or does against us.  We look to God, who walks before us, challenging our naysayers and clearing the path forward, for God will never leave us nor forsake us.

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MEMORY VERse

John Martin. Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still Upon Gibeon, ca. 1822. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Related Verses

More verses about God leading our path:

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Prayer Invitation

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Application Questions

• Have you had God at the forefront of your life, or has the Purpose been put to the side because of a person, personality, or leader in your life?
• What is one thing you can do this week to change your devotion more towards God?
• What is something good that shows love to other people, but you are afraid to fulfill? How can you be strong and courageous and do what frightens you?

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Cover Image: Guillam Du Bois. Mountainous Landscape, 1630 – 1660. The Rijksmuseum