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Deuteronomy 31 (ESV)
Joshua to Succeed Moses
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 Amorites, 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.”
7 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. 8 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.”
The Reading of the Law
9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
REFLECTION:
- Moses will not accompany the people into the land. But before he departs, he encourages them, and particularly Joshua, to remain confident. The source of their confidence is based on God’s presence with them as they face their enemies.
- A person’s commitment to follow God is not a single decision at a single moment. It’s a lifelong learning and growing process. Here Israel’s leaders are instructed to periodically gather the people to renew their allegiance to their God.
- PGC’s “Listening to God” plan is to encourage the whole church to go through the Bible in a few years together. Have I been faithful in Bible reading at least five days a week, and practice the 5 breath prayers each day and pray for church and members according to the prayer list daily?
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, as I hear Moses instructing Joshua in front of all the Israelites, I feel like You are speaking to me directly! Yes, I should be like Joshua, be strong and courageous, not afraid or discouraged, because You will be with me, You will not leave me or forsake me! Heavenly Father, how can I cleanse my ways? By obeying Your word! I seek You with all my heart, please do not let me stray from Your commands. I will store up Your word in my heart so that I will not sin against You. Heavenly Father, You are worthy of praise! Please teach me Your decrees and I will proclaim with my lips all the laws that come from Your mouth. I delight in Your laws as though they were treasures. I will meditate on Your teachings and consider Your ways. I find joy in Your decrees, and I will not forget Your word. Please guide me every day through my reading of the scriptures and prayer so that I may learn to fear You. Please be with me in times of difficulty when I am physically and emotionally weak, so that I may learn to trust in You completely, and experience Your power in my faith. Amen!
HYMN:
I Will Follow – youtu.be/mFna4pEF7M8
