Another blessing bestowed before death, preserved here for our benefit so many generations later. What do you suppose God wants us to learn from it?
Some of these tribes barely received any blessing at all from Moses’ blessing; Joseph, called “distinguished among his brothers,” pretty much got every blessing. Was Joseph distinguished because of his greater opportunities? Hardly. Does that speak to you about your own standing among your brothers and sisters? I would like for God to see me as outstanding!
If Moses had had a modern grave stone, his epitaph probably would have been verses 34:10-12. What a reputation for the history books: “whom the Lord knew face to face.” Could we possibly have the opportunity to be unique in the way God knows us? We can’t find out by comparing ourselves or competing with others, but only by seeking God. Seeking for the sake of knowing, which tends to block out any comparing or competing as we have our eyes only on God. Paul put it this way: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God calls me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)
You might want to check a map of Israel’s Promised Land to see the boundaries, and then compare it with a current map of the area. Here is a link for a good map of ancient Israel, and here is a link for a current map. The Great Sea Scripture speaks of is the Mediterranean Sea, in case you need that orientation.
Why do you suppose Joshua was told so many times (how many times was it?) to be strong and courageous? As I have said before, it must have been intimidating to follow a great leader like Moses, and Joshua was going to be leading them into battle, which was rather more difficult than leading them out of slavery or sitting in the wilderness. If they were rebellious under those conditions, what would they do in battle? Are you facing a daunting situation? Could God have a word for you in Joshua’s story?
We need to be careful in claiming God’s promises. Some of the promises He gives in the Bible are not given to us, and thus when Christians claim them and are then disappointed when they are not fulfilled, they doubt God’s word. So let’s see what God has for us in this account, learn from the principles presented here, and not set ourselves up for discouragement and unbelief.
God told Joshua, “I will not leave you or forsake you.” It was to Joshua He gave the promise, “… that you may have good success wherever you go.” Joshua was also the sole recipient of the promise, “…then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.” If we claim those promises on the basis of this passage, we are in error, for God gave those promises to Joshua and not to us. So why even pay attention to them? Because we can glean some help from them.
Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Just as the Great Commission He gave them in conjunction with this promise is also given to us, so is the promise given to us. (Note that He didn’t say “I will,” but “I am.” Do you recall where else you have heard “I am”? Those two words make that promise of Jesus’ even more profound.) Further, in Hebrews 13:5 God gives the promise of Joshua 1:5 to us New Testament people. How good God is to give us two witnesses to this great truth! We have no reason to doubt that promise. That’s one we can claim for ourselves. But don’t forget that we have learned that we must not take the promise for granted; we must ask God to be with us.
But God does not give us the promises of prosperity or success. We cannot claim those promises for ourselves, at least not in the way of material prosperity and success. However, Jesus’ final words to His disciples before His death give us some promises we can claim. It’s not that God wants to deny us material prosperity and success; rather, He has better things in mind for us. We need to ask Him to transform our values if the promises He gives us are a disappointment because we prefer the material prosperity.
Notice that God’s being with Joshua wasn’t enough to ensure his success; God expected him to
- Be what He called him to be – strong and courageous. Apparently Joshua didn’t feel strong and courageous, but God told him to be. How does one do that, be something he doesn’t feel? One exercises faith to act – act as if he did feel strong and courageous. Act to do what God has called one to do. As I have pointed out before, feeling it makes faith unnecessary. In our exercising faith by putting action to it, God transforms us so that it becomes a reality. Thus, as Hannah Whitall Smith put it, “Feeling follows faith.”
- “Be careful to do according to all the Law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left…. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.” He was to know the words of God, consider them constantly, speak of them, and do them.
Without these choices made properly, the prosperity and success God promised would not happen, or at least not be guaranteed, no matter how much God wanted His people to take possession of the land as He promised.
So Joshua rose up and acted. In commanding the people to prepare to cross the Jordan, he was acting strong and courageous, because there was no guarantee that the people would do as he said. After all, his command was not a sensible one at all. Everyone could see (and probably hear) plainly that this was absolutely not the time of year to be crossing the Jordan River, as it rushed dangerously and impossibly with runoff from seasonal rains. But God was with Joshua as He had promised, and the people obeyed his command. That must have helped him feel more strong and courageous!
How did the people of Jericho hear about God parting the Red Sea for Israel? That was certainly not a local event. Doubtless, God had made sure that the inhabitants of the land heard about it and remembered it these forty years, and used it to make their hearts melt, “so that there was no spirit left in any man because of” Israel. That didn’t glorify Israel in their eyes as much as Israel’s God. This is how God’s people conquer the enemy – not in physical battle, but in their seeing God as “God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”
So we have finished reading the books of the Law! That is a milestone to celebrate! Hopefully, you have kept up with the reading. I am praying for you to keep up, keep engaged, and grow in your understanding of God’s word and how to understand it and apply it to your life. If you haven’t kept up, please do not allow the enemy to use that to discourage you. Now is a great time to start anew, since we are at this milestone. You can plant your flag in the territory you claim, that of starting with the history books beginning with Joshua, and make this the first day. I recently saw a quote from Toby Mac: “One day or Day one. You decide.” Let’s go forward into the books of history!