Joshua commissioned and Moses sings of God and Israel’s future

Deuteronomy 31-32

AIM: Be strong and courageous, understand that God precedes those who follow his way

A)  Joshua is commissioned to lead Israel to the Promised Land

(31:1-3) Moses 120 years old, not leading you to Promised Land, but God will go ahead and Joshua will lead

(4-8) Lord will destroy nations living there, hand them over – you must deal with them as instructed (6) So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

(9-13) Moses wrote this entire body of instruction and gave it to priest and elders – read it at every gathering for all to learn to fear Lord your God.

 (14-21) God commissions Joshua at Tabernacle, predicts apostasy, debauchery, idol worship

Application: What does having the full, inspired word of God – and clear instruction to proclaim it during every gathering mean to me? Do I know and understand enough to bring the light of the good news to people around me?  How will knowing God has already gone before me before I speak his truth mean for my witness and ambassadorship

B) Moses song demonstrates God’s Character, his chosen people’s character and future justice

(22-29) teach them a song so they know wrong attitudes and actions have dire consequences

(31:30-32:4) Moses publicly recited the song of God Character, all creation listens & hear God speak like pouring rain, Rock, perfect, just, fair does no wrong, upright (3) I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    how glorious is our God!

(4-8) song of People’s Character:  corrupt, perverse, deceitful, twisted, senseless

(9-14) song of God’s Chosen: belong, special possession, found (rescued from wasteland), watched over, guarded, carried, guided, nourished, lavished blessing

(15-18) Apostasy of God’s Chosen:  fat, unruly, stuffed, (15) Then they abandoned the God who had made them;     they made light of the Rock of their salvation. Detestable deeds, false worship, idols, sacrifices to demons/not God, neglected the Rock who gave you birth

(19-25) How God feels: provoked to anger, will abandon them, anger blazes: Consequences: crops fail, disaster strikes, famine, fever, disease, beasts, snakes (25) outside and inside terror strikes

(26-27) Israel saved for God’s namesake, no mistaking it.

(28-33) Israel, senseless, foolish, if only they were wise and could understand this: God is in total control

(34-43) God is just and will carry out justice – proving who he is (43) “Rejoice with him, you heavens,
    and let all of God’s angels worship him.^[j]
Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles,
    and let all the angels be strengthened in him.^[k]
For he will avenge the blood of his children^[l];

Application: Do I proclaim God’s name to the world or make light of the salvation offered? What evidence in my life points to my true heart condition? God has the future in his hands and knows the outcome – yet has given us work to proclaim his word, he’s given everything we need.

C) Moses rightfully gives the meaning of the song and is rewarded to see the Promised Land

(44-47) Take heart, words of warning, pass them on to children, these words are life, obey and you will  enjoy long life!

(48-52) Same day, Lord told Moses to look at the promised land, reminding him he wouldn’t go for failing to demonstrate Lord’s holiness to the people

Application: We haven’t always done the right things but when we do the work as God has called us to we are eternally blessed.  Remember : Be strong and courageous, understand that God precedes those who follow his way.