SUCCESSION OF MOSES BY JOSHUA THE DEPOSIT OF THE …biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/deuteronomy/Deuteronomy 3… · Commentary and Questions by John C. Sewell Landmark Publications,

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Commentary and Questions by John C. Sewell

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SUCCESSION OF MOSES BY JOSHUA

THE DEPOSIT OF THE COVENANT TEXT

THE COMMISSIONING OF JOSHUA

ANTICIPATION OF DISOBEDIENCE

DEUTERONOMY 31:1-30




SUCCESSION OF MOSES BY JOSHUA

THE DEPOSIT OF THE COVENANT TEXT

THE COMMISSIONING OF JOSHUA

ANTICIPATION OF DISOBEDIENCE

Text: Deuteronomy 31:1-30, 1. Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2. He said to them, “Today I am a hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the Lord has said to me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan.’ 3. As for the Lord your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you and dispossess them. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as the Lord has said. 4. The Lord will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed. 5. The Lord will deliver them over to you and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you. 6. Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!” 7. Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will




accompany these people to the land that the Lord promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. 8. The Lord is indeed going before you—he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!” 9. Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, and to all Israel’s elders. 10. He commanded them: “At the end of seven years, at the appointed time of the cancellation of debts, at the Feast of Temporary Shelters, 11. when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before them within their hearing. 12. Gather the people—men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages—so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the Lord your God and carefully obey all the words of this law. 13. Then their children, who have not known this law, will also hear about and learn to fear the Lord your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” 14. Then the Lord said to Moses, “The day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting so that I can commission him.” So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15. The Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud that stood above the door of the tent. 16. Then the Lord said to Moses, “You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are




going. They will reject me and break my covenant that I have made with them. 17. At that time my anger will erupt against them and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcome them so that they will say at that time, ‘Have not these disasters overcome us because our God is not among us?’ 18. But I will certainly hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they will have done by turning to other gods. 19. Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites! 20. For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors—one flowing with milk and honey—and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant. 21. Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it. I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised.” 22. So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites, 23. and the Lord commissioned Joshua son of Nun, “Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you.” 24. When Moses finished writing on a scroll the words of this law in their entirety,




25. he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord’s covenant, 26. “Take this scroll of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. It will remain there as a witness against you, 27. for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the Lord; you will be even more rebellious after my death! 28. Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them. 29. For I know that after I die you will totally corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in the days to come because you will act wickedly before the Lord, inciting him to anger because of your actions.” 30. Then Moses recited the words of this song from start to finish in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel. (NET) Introduction: I. Hamilton observed that the material in this chapter is not arranged in chronological order, but as an artful blending of themes centering on God’s self-revelation as follows: . . .

A. Moses’ departure (verses 1-6, 24-30), . . .

B. Joshua’s appointment (verses 7-8, 23), . . .

C. Writing of sacred texts (verses 9-12, 19-22), . . .




D. Description of future generations (verses 13, 16-18), and . . .

E. Yahweh’s theophany.

II. Smith observed that Moses appears in this chapter as the aging statesman.

1. Emphasis is placed on Moses’ successor in Deuteronomy 31, Joshua, the son of Nun.

III. Smith noted that this chapter contains seven speeches, four by Moses and three by the Lord.

1. Moses’ speech to Israel (Verses 1-6), . . .

2. Moses’ speech to Joshua (Verses 7-8), . . .

3. Moses’ speech to the priests and elders (Verses 9-13), . . .

4. God’s speech to Moses (Verses 14-15), . . .

5. God’s second speech to Moses (Verses 16-22), . . .

6. God’s speech to Joshua (Verse 23) and, . . .

7. Moses’ speech to the Levites (Verses 24-30). IV. Hall wrote, “Chapter 31 begins the final major section of Deuteronomy dealing with: . . .




A. succession of leadership (31:1-8, 23), . . .

B. necessity for a periodic reading of the covenant document (31:9-13), . . .

C. two long poems which have traditionally been called the Song of Moses (chapter 32) and the Blessing of Moses (chapter 33), and . . .

D. Deuteronomy concludes with the death and epitaph of Moses (chapter 34).

NOTE: Chapters 31-34 correspond to chapters 1-3 and together are known as “The Outer Frame.” V. The Pulpit Commentary introduces Deuteronomy 31 by saying, “Moses had now finished his work as the legislator, ruler and leader of Israel.” Before his death, he appointed his successor, committed the law to the priests, admonished the people to faithfulness, warned them of the results of apostacy and encouraged them to go forward with courage in their conquest of Canaan. Commentary:

Succession of Moses by Joshua Deuteronomy 31:1, Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. (NET) I. Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.




A. Moses spoke to Israel again telling them that he would not lead them across the Jordan, that Joshua would be doing that, but God would be their absolute leader whom they were to loyally follow. (See smith and verses 1-6).

B. This was a monumental time in the history of ancient Israel

1. Moses, the man of God, would die and another leader, Joshua, would assume the leadership role of the nation.

2. Israel would cross Jordan and engage in a seven year war of conquest of the land of Canaan.

Deuteronomy 31:2, He said to them, “Today I am a hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the Lord has said to me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan.’ (NET) I. He said to them, “Today I am a hundred and twenty years old.

A. Hall wrote, “There is great sadness and resignation in Moses’ words.”

1. Moses was forty (40) years of age when he fled Egypt. (Hall)

a. Acts 7:20, 23, At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. For three months he was brought up in his father’s house, But when he was about forty years




old, it entered his mind to visit his fellow countrymen the Israelites. (NET)

2. Moses was eighty (80) years of age at the time of the Exodus. (Hall)

a. Deuteronomy 2:7, All along the way I, the Lord your God, have blessed your every effort. I have been attentive to your travels through this great wasteland. These forty years I have been with you; you have lacked for nothing.’” (NET)

b. Acts 7:29-30, When the man said this, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. (NET)

c. Exodus 7:7, Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh. (NET)

3. Moses was at the time of his death one hundred twenty (120) years of age. (Hall)

B. Clarke observed that Moses lived one hundred twenty (120) years, the same length of time Noah preached righteousness to the antediluvian world.




1. Genesis 6:3, So the Lord said, “My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years.” (NET)

II. I am no longer able to get about, . . .

A. Hall wrote, “Now at the end of the third cycle he was no longer able to carry out his leadership functions.”

1. “A new task called for new leadership,” Hall wrote.

2. This statement does not negate what is said in Deuteronomy 34:7, Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed. (NET)

B. Coffman wrote, “Moses was not thinking of his abilities as they existed at that moment, but of the strength that future leadership in the wars of Canaan would require.

1. Numbers 27:16-17, “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community, who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” (NET)

III. and the Lord has said to me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan.’




A. God had sentenced Moses to death because of his disobedience, death to occur before the Israelites entered Canaan.

1. That time had come!

Deuteronomy 31:3, As for the Lord your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you and dispossess them. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as the Lord has said. (NET) I. As for the Lord your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you and dispossess them.

A. God was the real leader of Israel!

1. Hall wrote, “Ultimately it mattered little who the human leader was if the people would remain faithful to and trust in God.” God would see the faithful to victory.

a. Deuteronomy 7:1-2, When the Lord your God brings you to the land that you are going to occupy and forces out many nations before you—Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and powerful than you—and he delivers them over to you and you attack them, you must utterly annihilate them. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy! (NET)




b. Deuteronomy 9:3, Understand today that the Lord your God who goes before you is a devouring fire; he will defeat and subdue them before you. You will dispossess and destroy them quickly just as he has told you. (NET)

c. Deuteronomy 12:29, When the Lord your God eliminates the nations from the place where you are headed and you dispossess them, you will settle down in their land. (NET)

d. Joshua 5:13-15, When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him holding a drawn sword. Joshua approached him and asked him, “Are you on our side or allied with our enemies?” He answered, “Truly I am the commander of the Lord’s army. Now I have arrived!” Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground and asked, “What does my master want to say to his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army answered Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you stand is holy.” Joshua did so. (NET)

B. The death of Moses and Joshua’s succession in no way changed the direction in which Israel was to proceed because God remained in charge of everything.




1. Deuteronomy 1:21, Look, he has placed the land in front of you! Go up, take possession of it, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, said to do. Do not be afraid or discouraged!” (NET)

2. Deuteronomy 10:3, So I made an ark of acacia wood and carved out two stone tablets just like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. (NET)

II. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as the Lord has said.

A. As long as Jehovah was devotedly followed as the nation’s God, it wouldn’t matter whether Moses or Joshua was in the physical leadership position.

1. God’s leadership guaranteed success.

B. Joshua had long been Moses’ assistant and regarded as Moses’ successor.

1. Exodus 17:8-16, Amalek came and attacked Israel in Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him, and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses would raise his hands, then Israel prevailed, but




whenever he would rest his hands, then Amalek prevailed. When the hands of Moses became heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, and so his hands were steady until the sun went down. So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his army with the sword. The Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in Joshua’s hearing; for I will surely wipe out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Moses built an altar, and he called it “The Lord is my Banner,” for he said, “For a hand was lifted up to the throne of the Lord—that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (NET)

2. Exodus 24:13, So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. (NET)

3. Numbers 11:28, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his choice young men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” (NET)

4. Numbers 27:15-23, Then Moses spoke to the Lord: “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community, who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no




shepherd.” The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission him publicly. Then you must delegate some of your authority to him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will be obedient. And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the Lord by the decision of the Urim. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord commanded, by the authority of Moses. (NET)

5. Deuteronomy 1:38, However, Joshua son of Nun, your assistant, will go. Encourage him, because he will enable Israel to inherit the land. (NET)

6. Deuteronomy 3:23-39, Moreover, at that time I pleaded with the Lord, “O, Lord God, you have begun to show me your greatness and strength. (What god in heaven or earth can rival your works and mighty deeds?) Let me please cross over to see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River—this good hill country and the Lebanon!” But the Lord was angry at me because




of you and would not listen to me. Instead, he said to me, “Enough of that! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and take a good look to the west, north, south, and east, for you will not be allowed to cross the Jordan. Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people over and will enable them to inherit the land you will see.” So we settled down in the valley opposite Beth Peor. (NET)

C. Hall wrote, “God’s people and leaders were to exhibit resolute courage in the face of every task. Israel was expected to stand firm with a strong heart.”

D. Coffman wrote, “These words, spoken publicly and formally before all Israel, constituted Moses’ resignation of the leadership of Israel and the appointment of Joshua as his successor.”

E. “Joshua was a mighty man of war. He was forty two (42) years younger than Moses. At the time he was appointed as Moses’ successor, he was seventy eight (78) years of age. He lived for thirty-two (32) years after this appointment and died at one hundred ten (110) years of age,” Coffman wrote.

1. Numbers 27:17, who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the community of the Lord may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.” (NET)




Deuteronomy 31:4, The Lord will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed. (NET) I. The Lord will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed.

A. “Sihon was a kign of the Amorites defeated by the Israelites during their journey toward the land of Canaan. Moses asked Sihon to let the Israelites pass peacefully through his kingdom, located east of the Jordan River. Sihon refused and later attacked the Israelites at Jahaz. In the battle that followed, Sihon and his army were killed and his territory was given to the tribes of Gad and Reuben.” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

1. Numbers 21:21-32, Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying, “Let us pass through your land; we will not turn aside into the fields or into the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well, but we will go along the King’s Highway until we pass your borders.” But Sihon did not permit Israel to pass through his border; he gathered all his forces together and went out against Israel into the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. But the Israelites defeated him in battle and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strongly defended. So Israel took all these cities; and Israel settled in all the cities of the




Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. Now he had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all of his land from his control, as far as the Arnon. That is why those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon, let it be built. Let the city of Sihon be established! For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places of Arnon. Woe to you, Moab. You are ruined, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters the prisoners of King Sihon of the Amorites. We have overpowered them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. We have shattered them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.” So the Israelites lived in the land of the Amorites. Moses sent spies to reconnoiter Jaazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. (NET)

2. Numbers 32:33, So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them. (NET)

3. Deuteronomy 1:4, This took place after the defeat of King Sihon of the Amorites, whose capital was in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan,




whose capital was in Ashtaroth, specifically in Edrei. (NET)

4. Joshua 2:10, For we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan. (NET)

5. Psalm 135:11, Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan. (NET)

6. Jeremiah 48:45, In the shadows of the walls of Heshbon those trying to escape will stand helpless. For a fire will burst forth from Heshbon. Flames will shoot out from the former territory of Sihon. They will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab, the skulls of those war-loving people. (NET)

B. “Og was a king of the Amorites of the land of Bashan, a territory east of the Jordan River and north of the river Jabbok. Og was king of over sixty (60) fortified cities, including Ashtaroth and Edrei. He was defeated by Moses and the Israelites. Then his kingdom was given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Og was the last survivor of this race of giants. His huge iron bedstead was kept on display in Rabbah long after his death.” (Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)




1. Numbers 21:33, Then they turned and went up by the road to Bashan. And King Og of Bashan and all his forces marched out against them to do battle at Edrei. (NET)

2. Numbers 32:33, So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them. (NET)

3. Deuteronomy 3:6, 11, We put all of these under divine judgment just as we had done to King Sihon of Heshbon—every occupied city, including women and children. Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy that his sarcophagus was made of iron. Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide according to standard measure.) (NET)

Deuteronomy 31:5, The Lord will deliver them over to you and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you. (NET) I. The Lord will deliver them over to you.

A. As Hamilton wrote, “God acts to save, and therefore Israel must be courageous. Humans must co-operate with God in the work of redemption, but God takes the lead.”




B. The inhabitants of Canaan were many and strong, but God was stronger.

1. As long as Israel remained with God, God would be with them and Israel would be a most formidable force assured of victory.

II. and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you.

A. The wicked idolatrous inhabitants of Canaan were to be destroyed as the penalty for their sins and as a precaution to prevent their influencing Israel to forsake God and worship idols.

B. Israel did not fully obey the Lord in regard to destroying their enemies.

1. The result was that, for hundreds of years, Israel would be influenced by these people toward idolatry.

Deuteronomy 31:6, Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!” (NET) I. Be strong and courageous!

A. The people first and now Joshua were given these marching orders, “Be strong and courageous.”




1. Paul voiced similar marching orders in 1 Corinthians 16:13, Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. (NET)

2. All Christians are to be strong and courageous!

B. Related references: . . .

1. Exodus 4:21, The Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put under your control. But I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go. (NET)

2. Exodus 9:15, For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. (NET)

3. 1 Corinthians 16:13, Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. (NET)

II. Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you.

A. God would walk with Israel as long as Israel walked with God. (See Hall.)

1. Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you except to revere him, to obey all his commandments, to love him, to serve him with all your mind and




being, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good? (NET)

2. Deuteronomy 1:30, 33, The Lord your God is about to go ahead of you; he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt and in the desert, where you saw him carrying you along like a man carries his son. This he did everywhere you went until you came to this very place.” However, through all this you did not have confidence in the Lord your God, the one who was constantly going before you to find places for you to set up camp. He appeared by fire at night and cloud by day, to show you the way you ought to go. (NET)

3. Deuteronomy 8:2, 15, Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. (NET)

4. Deuteronomy 29:4-5, But to this very day the Lord has not given you an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears! I have led you through the desert for forty years. Your clothing has not worn out nor have your sandals deteriorated. (NET)

III. He will not fail you or abandon you!”




A. Hall wrote, “In this crucial time of transition and uncertain future, Israel could have a robust confidence in God.”

B. God is faithful. He will not fail or abandon those who are faithful to him.

Deuteronomy 31:7, Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the Lord promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. (NET) I. Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, . . .

A. In verses 7-8, Moses spoke to Joshua and urged him to also be strong and courageous. (See Smith.)

1. Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18, Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed. But be strong and brave!” (NET)




2. God was to lead and Joshua was to follow.

B. The people had been urged to remain strong and courageous. Now Moses implores Joshua as leader to also be strong and courageous.

1. Joshua’s role was to lead Israel into Canaan and take possession of the land, to conquer Canaan

2. Absolute faith and trust were essential for the accomplishment of this task.

a. Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” (NET)

II. “Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the Lord promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it.

A. Moses did not simply suggest to Joshua that he should consider mustering up a degree of strength and courage for




the trials and tribulations ahead. Moses did not just invite Joshua to go with the people as they crossed the Jordan. Moses did not tell Joshua to do what he could to carve out enough land for the people to be able to make do.

B. Moses told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. You will accompany these people! The Lord promised your ancestors that he would give this land to their descendants. You will enable them to inherit it.”

1. Numbers 27:18-23, The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission him publicly. Then you must delegate some of your authority to him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will be obedient. And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the Lord by the decision of the Urim. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.” So Moses did as the Lord commanded him; he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the Lord commanded, by the authority of Moses. (NET)

2. Exodus 3:11, Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (NET)




3. Exodus 4:10-17, Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.” But Moses said, “O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!” Then the Lord became angry with Moses, and he said, “What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart. “So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do. He will speak for you to the people, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were his God. You will also take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs.” (NET)

C. Joshua was charged to lead Israel to the successful conquest at Canaan.

Deuteronomy 31:8, The Lord is indeed going before you—he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!” (NET)




I. The Lord is indeed going before you – he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you.

A. Joshua believed in the Lord, discharged his duties and achieved the goals set for him by the Lord.

B. We can be of great faith like Joshua and succeed or of little faith like Peter and sink in the stormy waters.

1. Matthew 14:32-33, When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (NET)

C. The Lord would go before Israel as they crossed over Jordan, accompany them in all their journeys and assist them in all their endeavors. (Clarke)

1. As long as Israel remained faithful to God, he would remain their mighty, invincible protector.

2. God would prepare the way for and direct faithful Israel. (See Clarke.)

D. As long as Israel remained faithful, God would not fail them. (See Clarke.)

1. God would never forsake, abandon the faithful.

II. Do not be afraid or discouraged!”

Documents

SUCCESSION OF MOSES BY JOSHUA THE DEPOSIT OF THE …biblestudyworkshop.com/download/old/deuteronomy/Deuteronomy 3… · Commentary and Questions by John C. Sewell Landmark Publications,