Deuteronomy 31

INTRO

We’re only one day away from finishing the study of Deuteronomy and all of Moses’ writings in the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The last few days have been a whole lot about blessings and curses. I say, let’s just choose life, which is really what Deuteronomy 30 was all about. As we dig into Deuteronomy 31, we’ll be talking about tangible, practical stories that we can follow. In fact, in the first eight verses, there’s a change in leadership––from Moses to Joshua.

TEACHING

Deuteronomy 31:1-2: Verse 1 says, “Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel.” His sermon continues. In verse 2, Moses stated he was 120 years old, that he was old, and that he couldn’t go across the Jordan.

What do we know about Moses’ life?

• The first 40 years, Moses spent in Egypt.
• The second 40 years, Moses spent in Midian taking care of sheep and being with his family.
• The last 40 years, Moses spent in the wilderness, leading the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land.
• He died at 120 years, his eyesight was good, and he was full of vitality. His health and ability did not keep him from leading (Deuteronomy 34:7). His sin did.
• Moses’ sin prevented him from entering the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:37-38).
• Moses begged God to allow him to enter the Promised Land and continue to lead the people.
• God refused and used Moses’ sin to bring in new leadership (Deuteronomy 3:23-29).

Deuteronomy 31:3-6: Moses explained to the Israelites that Joshua would lead them across the Jordan (v. 3). And God would defeat their enemies just as He did with Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and turn them over to the Israelites (vv. 4-5). According to Joshua 1:5, God told Joshua, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.” That word is still good today. No matter what we’re facing—addiction, marriage issues, poor decisions—God will not leave us or forsake us. Therefore, in verse 6, Moses told Joshua: “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” “Them” referred to the Israelites. Moses didn’t want Joshua to be terrified of the people he was to lead or be afraid that Moses was not going to be there. Instead, Moses wanted Joshua to depend upon God. In Joshua 1, God commanded Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous three times (vv. 6-7, 9). Louis B. Smeedes says, “Courage is only fear soaked in prayer.”1 The only way we can walk out in courage is to pray and ask God to help us to overcome our fears as we go into a new land, because God is with us.

The people of Israel were commanded to go into the Promised Land. Matthew 28:18-20 says we’ve been commissioned by Jesus who has all authority, to go into all kinds of lands, local neighborhoods, big cities, and foreign countries, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As we do this, we’re commissioned to teach and make disciples. No matter where we go, God will be there and never leave us. The phrase “end of the age” means until Jesus comes back; He’ll be with us forever. When fear gets in the way, none of this works.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8: Moses summoned Joshua in front of all the Israelites and told him he would lead the people into the Promised Land (v. 7). Walter Lippman says, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.”²Moses had Joshua to lead after him. This is clearly a biblical model of godly leadership. Think about Jesus and the apostles. He had 12 men He poured into. What should be an encouragement to us is that one of the 12 bailed on Him. He had three that He really poured into and some who doubted. It wasn’t a perfect group. The Apostle Paul poured into Timothy and Titus. What happened in Joshua’s case is that Moses stood before the people and told them he was

trusting Joshua with more. It was a transfer of leadership. Wiersbe says that when there is no leadership change, it’s evidence of God’s judgment on His people.³((Isaiah 3:1-4; Deuteronomy 1:38; 31:14; 32:51-52). When a transfer God puts in place doesn’t work, it is because of instability caused by disobedience. Joshua was ready and prepared to take over, and God’s hand was upon Him. Joshua came with Moses before the people and recited all the words of Moses’ song. This shows that Moses was willing to relinquish his authority to Joshua, so that Joshua could take over.

Deuteronomy 31:9-13: As leadership changed from Moses to Joshua, Moses instructed the priests to read the law every seven years before all the people assembled, adults and children alike. Regardless of who was in charge, the Word of God always takes precedence over anyone else. The law, the Word of God, had to remain the foundation. This must go wherever the Israelites went.

Deuteronomy 31:14-15: As Moses’ time grew short, God told him to bring Joshua in to be commissioned. And the Lord personally showed up in a pillar of cloud at the entrance to the tent. God had shown up for Moses, and now He was showing up for Joshua’s commissioning, so the people could see that God was with Joshua.

Deuteronomy 31:16-23: God told Moses he was about to die and that the people would be disobedient and unfaithful (v.16). God said He would grow angry with them and abandon them, and they would face troubles and afflictions. One day they would realize the troubles had come because God abandoned them (v. 17). Therefore, Moses was to write a song he could teach to the Israelites so it could be a witness about God (v.19). Moses wrote the song that day and taught it to the Israelites (v. 22). And Joshua was commissioned (v.23).

Deuteronomy 31:24-29: The preservation of God’s word came through the song Moses wrote down. Because verse 24 states, “When Moses had finished writing down on a scroll every single word of this law,” some people think this song was actually the entire Pentateuch. Moses was instructed to place the song beside the Ark of the Covenant as a witness against the Israelites (v. 26). Sadly, when Moses left them, the Israelites were obedient, but they would turn to apostasy just as God said they would (v.29).

CLOSING

Moses ended his time of leadership with this song, a written legacy that would tell the Israelites of their own sins. Knowing what was to happen couldn’t have been easy for Moses, but he did as God commanded, ending his time of leadership by remaining faithful and obedient to God.

1 Louis Smeedes, “An Introduction to Mission Beyond the Mission,” Theology, News, and Notes (October 1983), p. 3; quoted in Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable, Deuteron- omy; p. 171; available online at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/deuteronomy.pdf