Scripture Daily

Context No. 3665 of 4322 · Deuteronomy

Context · Reflection

Deuteronomy 31:1-6: in context

1Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2He said to them, “I am one hundred twenty years old today. I can no more go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ 3The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua will go over before you, as the LORD has spoken. 4The LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. 5The LORD will deliver them up before you, and you shall do to them according to all the commandment which I have commanded you. 6Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or scared of them, for the LORD your God himself is who goes with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you.”

Moses, now a hundred and twenty years old and about to die, gives Israel his parting encouragement before Joshua leads them into the land. And its heart is one of Scripture's great assurances: 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.

Notice the ground of the courage: not the strength of Israel's army, but the presence of God, who goes with them and will never abandon them. Moses, who will not enter the land himself, points the people past his own departure to the God who remains with them. Leaders come and go, even great ones like Moses, but God goes with his people always. There is comfort here for every transition and every fear: the same God who has carried us this far goes on before us and will not fail or forsake us. Our courage rests on his unfailing presence, not on our own strength.

When I face a daunting road or the loss of those who led me, do I take courage in the God who goes with me and will never leave me nor forsake me?

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