A Dreary, Rainy Day

 

[Moses said] “And the LORD heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!’ Even with me the LORD was angry on your account and said, ‘You also shall not go in there. Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall enter. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it.’” (Deuteronomy 1:34-39 ESV).

 

It’s a dreary, rainy Sunday here in Parker County as I sit at the computer to write a few devotionals for future publication. My thoughts are drawn to how often I easily fall prey to the temptation to allow my environment or circumstance to determine whether I am discouraged or encouraged. I thought there may be others who have found that to be true in their lives as well. So, I was taken to our reading today.

 

Moses had led God’s people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea (cf. Exodus 1-15). He had received God’s law and taught it to the people (cf. Exodus 20-50), and by God’s grace he had brought them to the edge of the promised land. But the people had rebelled, and God had turned them back to wander in the wilderness for forty years (cf. Numbers 13-14). Now they were about to enter the promised land again, but Moses would not be leading them in. God had chosen Joshua to do that instead.

 

In Deuteronomy, Moses gives his farewell address, and here he says God told him to “encourage” Joshua. More literally, this means “strengthen.” But couldn’t God have given Joshua all the strength he needed? Was that a bit like rubbing salt in Moses’ wounds? After all, wasn’t it natural for Moses to be discouraged by this command? Actually, it was a great gift to Moses to be the one to strengthen or encourage Joshua. As Moses empowers Joshua in front of everyone, Joshua steps in to continue Moses’ success rather than just being his replacement. Joshua’s success becomes part of Moses’ legacy. That’s the way of our Lord. Circumstances only “work together for our good” (Romans 8:28). That is where we place our trust… and that leads to encouragement in every circumstance!