Deuteronomy 31:14-22
Today’s Passage: Deuteronomy 31:14-22
As Moses nears the end of his life, the Lord is preparing the Israelites for the next season they will enter both by preparing a leader and preparing a song.
The leader chosen is Joshua. Joshua had served Moses faithfully and learned from him closely. Joshua was one of the spies sent into Canaan in Numbers 13 and he was one of the only two who came out still confident that God would deliver them into the Promised Land.
However, any qualifications Joshua had to lead were worthless if he was not first willing to humble himself before the Lord.
When the pillar of cloud descended on the tent and the Lord appeared to speak, He did not give Joshua a pep talk or recount the successes he had had. Instead, the Lord gave Moses and Joshua a glimpse into what the future would hold for the Israelites and what they presently held in their hearts.
The future would be filled with the Israelites’ disobedience and even in that moment the Lord new the inclinations of their heart were toward evil (v. 21), but even then the Lord would not abandon his people.
He would hide his face but He would not be unreachable. He commissioned Moses to write a song that would stick with them and be a witness to God’s faithful unchanging character even in the midst of their disobedience.
The Israelites had spent 40 years in the wilderness because of their disobedience, but that had not led them to repentance. They were still inclined to disobey and to sin. They did not earn their way to the Promised Land, but in God’s Grace He is faithful to the promises He makes.
Praise the Lord that He knows our hearts and He has prepared a better way for us! We are not better than these Israelites, our hearts are inclined to sin as well, but God made a way for our sin to ultimately be paid for on the cross through Jesus’ death and He made a way for us to be freed from sin and pursue obedience through Jesus’ resurrection.
How do you remind yourself of God’s faithful, unchanging character? Have you thanked God for his faithfulness to you? Have you confessed your inclination toward sin and asked God to help you pursue obedience?
Written By: Paulette Black
As Moses nears the end of his life, the Lord is preparing the Israelites for the next season they will enter both by preparing a leader and preparing a song.
The leader chosen is Joshua. Joshua had served Moses faithfully and learned from him closely. Joshua was one of the spies sent into Canaan in Numbers 13 and he was one of the only two who came out still confident that God would deliver them into the Promised Land.
However, any qualifications Joshua had to lead were worthless if he was not first willing to humble himself before the Lord.
When the pillar of cloud descended on the tent and the Lord appeared to speak, He did not give Joshua a pep talk or recount the successes he had had. Instead, the Lord gave Moses and Joshua a glimpse into what the future would hold for the Israelites and what they presently held in their hearts.
The future would be filled with the Israelites’ disobedience and even in that moment the Lord new the inclinations of their heart were toward evil (v. 21), but even then the Lord would not abandon his people.
He would hide his face but He would not be unreachable. He commissioned Moses to write a song that would stick with them and be a witness to God’s faithful unchanging character even in the midst of their disobedience.
The Israelites had spent 40 years in the wilderness because of their disobedience, but that had not led them to repentance. They were still inclined to disobey and to sin. They did not earn their way to the Promised Land, but in God’s Grace He is faithful to the promises He makes.
Praise the Lord that He knows our hearts and He has prepared a better way for us! We are not better than these Israelites, our hearts are inclined to sin as well, but God made a way for our sin to ultimately be paid for on the cross through Jesus’ death and He made a way for us to be freed from sin and pursue obedience through Jesus’ resurrection.
How do you remind yourself of God’s faithful, unchanging character? Have you thanked God for his faithfulness to you? Have you confessed your inclination toward sin and asked God to help you pursue obedience?
Written By: Paulette Black
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