Deuteronomy 31:1-13: Saying Goodby
"DO YOU HAVE your notebook? How about your lunch? What about your coat? Don't forget the permission slip I signed for you last night." These are the questions a parent asks as a child leaves for school. So it is with Moses as he prepares Israel for their entrance into the Promised Land without him. How hard it must have been to turn over the reins of leadership and step out of the way! And how must the people have felt? Moses was the only leader they had ever known. He knew God, he knew the law, and he always seemed to know what to do. No doubt about it, the parting, for all, was difficult. However, both Moses and the nation needed to understand that the nation had made a covenant with God, not with Moses. They needed to grasp that God was their Savior, not Moses. If Moses had continued, it wouldn't have been good for the nation, nor would it have been good for Moses himself.
Warming Up to God
We must look beyond our spiritual leaders to the God they serve. Think of someone who has been a spiritual influence in your life. Consider how they have been a means of pointing to the presence and character of God. Thank God for that person and for his grace in working through him or her.
Read Deuteronomy 31:1-13. »
Discovering the Word
- How would you characterize the tone of these goodby words from Moses?
- What is the Lord's part and what is Israel's part in taking the land (vv. 3-6)?
- How would you describe Joshua's commission from Moses (vv. 7-8)?
- What provision is made for keeping the law a central part of the nation's life (vv. 9-13)?
- Look through the whole chapter again. In what specific ways does Moses assure the people that the presence of God will be a help to them?
Applying the Word
- Moses reminds the people of what God has done as they prepare to enter the land. How does the knowledge of what God did for Israel help you to trust him for the challenges you face?
- The presence of God was to provide a sense of confidence and courage in the time of leadership transition. How can the presence of God provide confidence and courage as you face your tasks and transitions?
- The presence of God does not take away the need to "be strong and courageous." In what areas do you need to exercise strength and courage?
Responding in Prayer
Pray that the leaders of your church would find their strength and courage in the presence of God. Ask that God would give you a love for his law that will keep you stable and faithful throughout the duration of your Christian pilgrimage.
For Further Study
The IVP Atlas of Bible History by Paul Lawrence