1. Handover of leadership and encouragement.
The law is recorded, the covenant is renewed and now the leadership role transfers from Moses to Joshua. As the comments in the beginning of the chapter point out however, it was God who was the leader of the Israelites, Moses was just the servant. And Joshua is being called to do the same now. How frightening this must have been for Joshua at a critical moment: before the conquering of the Promised Land. Yet, we see Moses encouraging him and the people:
“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." (Deut 31:6)
Some of us might be right now at the eve of a battle or already in the midst of one. But God is simply telling us to be strong and courageous. He is promising us that He will fight for us.
2. Song of Unfaithfulness
Next God gives again warning and reminder to the people of their unfaithfulness (contrasting His faithfulness) but the message is in a different form: God gave them a song. The words that stayed with me are
Describing God:
-He is the Rock, his works are perfect
-A faithful God who does no wrong
-Is he not your Father, your Creator who made you and formed you?
-For the Lord’s portion is his people
Describing the people:
-He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior
-You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth
Imagine if God gave you a song today to sing about your relationship with Him, how would it go? I hope our daily songs are ones of hope and redemption, where we don't forget the Rock that fathered us.
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