FBC Morning Light (3/9/2024)

Deuteronomy’s Blessings, Cursings, and Moses’ Final Charge

Good Saturday morning, people of faith. We are reading together in the book of Deuteronomy, chapters 25 through most of the chapter 31. And throughout much of chapters 25 through 31, there's a list of blessings, lists of cursings, interaction between Moses as he speaks to the people of Israel, and them giving their amen to that, yes, they will follow this, the commands of the Lord.

And we get to chapter 31. And as we get to chapter 31, I want to take a look back at what's the situation, all right? Moses has been leading the people for the past 40 years. And in that leading, most of the people, most of the adult males have died.

There's very few people left alive that would remember anyone leading the people besides Moses. And yet Moses knows because the Lord has told him that his time is about done, that he will not be leading the people into the promised land.

And he's been told that Joshua will be the one to lead. And in chapter 31, we have the same expression given three times to encourage Moses and Joshua and the people. The first is in verse 6. It says, be strong and of good courage.

Do not fear nor be afraid of them for the Lord your God, he is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Well, who is it that they're not to be afraid of? It's those people in the promised land.

Do not be afraid of them.

Why not? Why not?

For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. Therefore, you can be strong and of good courage. Notice that the Lord's promise that he will be with them is the reason why you can be strong and of good courage.

Just before this, back in verse 4, Moses says to the people, and the Lord will do to them as he did to Sion and Og. Remember that those were the kings that had rebelled and tried to keep the Israelites from entering into their land and went to war.

And they lost that war because the Lord was the one that was with them. In verse 7, Moses calls Joshua and says to him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.

And the Lord, he is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Do not fear nor be dismayed. Again, the promise is made to Joshua, this time in the hearing of all the people so that they know there's going to be a new leader for your people.

Moses is saying, this is the one. So that transition does, in fact, take place. And then finally, in verse 23, he inaugurates that Moses and the Lord inaugurated Joshua, the son of Nun, and said, Be strong and of good courage, for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.

So our promise, or excuse me, the command to be strong and of good courage does not come all by itself. It comes with a very significant promise, which I would argue is the only reason we would ever be able to be strong is because the Lord is, in fact, with us.

The Promise of God’s Presence as the Basis for Courage

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise that you gave to Joshua through Moses. As you transitioned during this time back in Deuteronomy and in Joshua to be strong and of good courage. You gave that same promise through Jesus that, lo, he would be with us always, even to the end of the age.

Let us go forth and be strong and be courageous and be bold in sharing your word and your gospel. Because we know that you are with us. It's in your son's name, Jesus, we pray. Amen. Have an excellent day, people of faith.