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MOSES HANDED OVER THE LEADERSHIP
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16
Deuteronomy 31:1-8

1 Kings 2:1-4

 

“…be thou strong therefore,

and shew thyself a man…”

 

MOSES HANDED OVER THE LEADERSHIP
 
The Lord had revealed to Moses that he would soon die, and not cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. He was set to hand over the office to Joshua. He announced his soon departure and introduced Joshua to Israel. The Lord directed him to write a song for Israel, a song of joy and declaration of who God was to the nation. He completed writing the book of the Law and had it put in the Ark of the Covenant.
 
When Moses spoke his last words to Israel, he announced that he could not go across Jordan with them. He was 120 years old. The Lord had told him that his time was coming to an end. Moses reminded the people that in the course of the possession of the land, the Lord was going to be with them. God would destroy the nations before them and Joshua would lead them in the acquisition of the land. Moses told them that God would deliver the Canaanites the same way He delivered the kings of the Amorites to them. Moses encouraged them not to fear as God was with them: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deut 31:6). Israel needed to trust the Lord that He would fulfil His promise to their fathers. If they were to measure themselves by the physical might of the Canaanites, they would not attempt to occupy that land.
 
Moses then prepared Joshua for the role of leadership. He called Joshua before all Israel and spoke to him words of encouragement. At that point in time, the leaders and the people needed to have unity of mind. Moses told Joshua that he must go with the people and inherit the land that the Lord has sworn that He would give to them. He assured them again and again that the Lord was going to be with them and would enable them to inherit the land.
 
THOUGHT: God’s wonder-working power is manifested when the impossible happens.

PRAYER: Father, may I run my course with Thy assurance.

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