Chapter 31 is a continuation of the previous chapter, and in this chapter, Moses publicly recognizes and transfers leadership to Joshua, and then predicts Israel’s disobedience. The chapter begins, “When Moses had finished saying these things (from chapter 30) to all the people of Israel, he said, “I am now 120 years old and am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has told me that I will not cross the Jordan River. But the Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua is your new leader, and he will go with you, just as the Lord promised. The Lord will destroy the nations living in the land, just as he destroyed Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. The Lord will hand over to you the people who live there, and you will deal with them as I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:1-6)
At this time Moses called for Joshua, “and as all Israel watched he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to give their ancestors. You are the one who will deliver it to them as their inheritance. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)
Moses then gave the priests who carried the Ark of the covenant, the book of laws that he had written, and told them, along with the leaders of Israel, to read these laws to all the people of Israel every seven years during the Festival of Shelters. He said, “Call them all together -- men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns -- so they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of this law. Do this so that your children who have not known these laws will hear them and will learn to fear the Lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.” (Deuteronomy 31:12-13)
At this point, the Lord spoke to Moses, “The time has come for you to die. Call Joshua and take him with you to the Tabernacle, and I will commission him there.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tabernacle. And the Lord appeared to them in a pillar of cloud at the entrance to the sacred tent.” (Deuteronomy 31:14-15)
“The Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die and join your ancestors. After you are gone, these people will begin worshiping foreign gods, the gods of the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break the covenant I have made with them. Then my anger will blaze forth against them. I will abandon them, hiding my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Terrible trouble will come down on them, so that they will say, “These disasters have come because God is no longer among us!” At that time I will hide my face from them on account of all the sins they have committed by worshiping other gods.” (Deuteronomy 31:16-18)
The Lord then informs Moses to write down the words to a song He wants Moses to teach to the people of Israel. The Lord said, “Teach them to sing it, so it may serve as a witness against them. For I will bring them into the land I swore to give their ancestors -- a land flowing with milk and honey. There they will become prosperous; they will eat all the food they want and become well nourished. Then they will begin to worship other gods; they will despise me and break my covenant. Then great disasters will come down on them, and this song will stand as evidence against them, for it will never be forgotten by their descendants. I know what these people are like, even before they have entered the land I swore to give them.” (Deuteronomy 31:19-21)
Wow! After all the Lord has done for them...miracles, signs, and wonders they saw with their own eyes, and they are still so disobedient.
At this time, the Lord commissioned Joshua and told him to be strong and courageous as he lead the people into the land He is giving them.
Moses then completes the chapter telling the Levites, “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, so it may serve as a witness against the people of Israel. For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Even now, while I am still with you, you have rebelled against the Lord. How much more rebellious will you be after my death! Now summon all the leaders and officials of your tribes so that I can speak to them and call heaven and earth to witness against them. I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and will turn from the path I have commanded you to follow. In the days to come, disaster will come down on you, for you will make the Lord very angry by doing what is evil in his sight.
Wow! How discouraging that must have felt for Moses, but at the same time, he may have felt a huge sense of relief knowing he no longer had to deal with these unruly people.
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Help us to be in compliance with your laws, so that you never have to hide your face from us. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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