Today’s passage: Deuteronomy 31
Helpful thoughts:
- Moses announces to the people the completion of his service as their leader and names Joshua as God’s chosen man to take leadership in his place. In this announcement, Moses makes it abundantly clear that it was the Lord who had led Israel and it would be the Lord who continued to lead them to victory in the Promised Land.
- At God’s command through Moses, the priests were to read the Law to all of Israel as they assembled for the Feast of Booths (in the fall) every seventh year.
- God did not hide the truth from Moses before his death, Israel was going to fail.
- Moses did not hide the truth from the Levites, they were stubborn and were going to fail.
- In the midst of all this acknowledgment of the looming failure of Israel, the Lord commands Joshua, “Be strong and courageous…I will be with you.” Joshua’s confidence was never to be in Israel’s ability to succeed, but in God’s faithfulness to His promises.
Questions to consider:
- How do you think Moses might have felt to hear this announcement from the Lord? Why would he probably not have been surprised by it?
- How would it have been difficult for Joshua to be strong and courageous, knowing that the nation he was leading would fail to remain faithful to the Lord? In whom was his strength and courage to be found, the people or God?
- How can this perspective help you to remain strong and courageous today?