Scripture: So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. 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.’ 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. And the LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. 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. 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.”
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.”
Deuteronomy 31:1-8 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, Moses closes with his last pastoral message that invokes a call to action. Having listened long enough to the ways of the Lord, this second generation of the Exodus must make a choice. They must choose whether they will love and obey their Lord with the promise that it will go well for them or turn to other gods and surely perish. Thus, invoking the witnesses of heaven and earth, Moses demands the nation to choose God’s blessing or curse that promises life or death (respectively) for themselves and their offspring.
For today’s reading, Moses (now age 120) reminds the people that he is too weak to lead the charge into Canaan, but Israel’s all-powerful Lord will go before them and destroy the nations with Joshua leading the way. He then reminds them of how Yahweh handed over the five kings of the south to Israel as they approached the Promised Land. Thus, they can count on God to do the same in Canaan. So be strong and courageous, for the Lord will be with them and not leave nor forsake them.
At this point in the installation ceremony, Moses turns toward Joshua and, speaking directly to Joshua in front of the people, repeats the charge to be strong and courageous, for the Lord will go with Joshua and not forsake him. Moses then commissions Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land and distribute the land among the tribes, again promising that Yahweh will be present with Joshua. Thus, Joshua must not fear the enemy or be dismayed.
Takeaway: Moses’ commission reverberates from an earlier time when the Lord affirmed Moses in front of the people at Sinai so that they might believe in and follow Moses’ leadership (Exodus 19:9). Here, Moses’ challenge to be strong and courageous echoes into the future when:
- The Lord commissions Joshua (Joshua 1:6, 9).
- The people encourage Joshua (Joshua 1:8).
- King David exhorts his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:13, 28:20).
In each instance, the succession of leadership involves:
- Commissioning the leader
- The witness of the community
- The call to allegiance (the leader to God and the people to the leader and God)
- Affirmation that the Lord will prosper and go before his leader and people
Our takeaway? As the text points us to Christ, our Gospel tells us that the Father commissioned his Son at his baptism before the witness of a community of believers (Matthew 3:13-16). Also, as Yahweh does here, the Father affirms his Son (Matthew 3:17), foretelling that he (through John the Baptist) will go before his Son in the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare the way (Luke 1:17). In response, the Son declares his allegiance to his Father: only doing what the Father tells him—even unto death on a cross (John 6:38). Lastly like Moses, John the Baptist steps aside and points his disciples to Christ (John 3:30).
Our part? Indeed, we need to follow this pattern in commissioning Christian leaders. But, more importantly, we would do well to remind ourselves that the Lord goes before all of us. It may not be obvious, but if we take the time to reflect on how we have arrived at this point in our faith journey, we will remember those who, through the leading of the Holy Spirit:
- Spoke timely words that guided us
- Advocated us to others who opened doors
- Strengthened us with practical help when we were overwhelmed
- Encouraged us when we wanted to give up
These are just a few ways the Holy Spirit orchestrates others to help us and we to help them. And it all began with our Lord going before us to crush the ultimate enemy’s head and remove the sting of death so that we might take possession of our eternal Promise Land. Meanwhile, as we sojourn into enemy territory, we scout signs of the Lord’s presence and remember his commission: “Be strong and courageous, for I, the Lord, am going before you!”
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son who went before us and prepared the way to forgiveness and reconciliation with you. So, please help us to remember that you have and will continue to go before us and thus follow the lead of your Holy Spirit in the strength and courage of your Son.” Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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