Moses knew that he would not lead the people into the promised land. God had admonished him due to his disobedience. But, I can’t help but believe that he must have been quite excited about finally reaching the goal that had been His to meet for so many years.
He told Joshua, ” so be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail nor abandon you.” Joshua surely felt the power of God and his confidence was such that he was ready to lead the people as Moses had told him.
The Lord commissioned Joshua with these words,”be strong and courageous, for you must bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you.” How could Joshua not feel confident? God, himself told him he would be with him.
Prior to his death Moses recited the Song of Moses to the people. He obviously was ready to meet his maker and confident that he did what he could do with the help of the Lord.
“Listen, O heavens, and I will speak! Hear, O earth, the words that I Say! Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. I will proclaim the name of
The Lord; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!”
In reading the history of Israel, I understand that God simply wanted to have a personal relationship with them. And, as much as they rebelled and abused all that God offered them; he still loved them.
God does the same with us. He loves us so insurmountably. He waits for us to come to him and seek him out. He isn’t lost, by any means but we do get ourselves in situations where we could be. God faithfully waits and longs for our wholehearted commitment to Him. It’s the very least we can offer him!
ritasalomon 