Deuteronomy 31

Scripture 

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 NIV

31 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. 4 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. 5 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 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.” 7 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. 8 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.”

Observation 

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 we see Moses telling the people that he can no longer lead them into the promise land. He goes on to encourage them that God will go before them as well as Joshua to lead them. He tells them not to be scared, that God is in this. Moses also commissions Joshua to continue what was started and encouraged him that God Will never leave him.

Understanding 

As I read this I am reminded how good God is and how faithful He is to His word. 

Isaiah 55:11 NIV 

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

God had promised His people that He would lead them out of captivity into a land flowing with milk and honey. Even though it took awhile and the people of God made many mistakes, we see God holding true to His word. 

This is also a reminder that it might not always look how we expect it to look, but we can stand on God’s promises. Here we have Moses handing off the torch to Joshua. I can’t imagine what Joshua is going through. This is his spiritual father, this is the one who has been leading this whole time. To hear that Moses is no longer able to lead and that you are to step up. Wow, that is a lot to take in. The awesome thing is God promised to go before him. He also promised to be with Joshua and to never leave him. It shows me that through it all, no matter how it changes, God is faithful and is the one who will guide us and be with us. 

The other thing I love and learn from this passage is God always prepares us for what’s to come. God spoke these words to prepare Joshua and the people, so that at the end of Deuteronomy when Moses passes on Joshua is prepared. God allows Joshua a time of mourning and at the beginning of the book of Joshua God commissions him to walk out what He spoke through Moses. 

Life Application 

What dream has God given to you? What are the plans and promises you need to hold onto? What word do you need to trust God to be faithful in no matter the twist and turns your journey takes? 

I pray that we would feel the comforter in this moment. I pray we would hear Him as He reminds us that He goes before us, that He is with us, and that He will never leave us or forsake us. 

It’s time we trust Him to accomplish all that He says. 

-Justin Eaves