Prayer: Father, may I find encouragement in Your Word today. Prepare me to face the spiritual battles which come against me. Amen.
Reading: Deuteronomy 31 key: vs. 1-3 & 7-8
Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 He said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. Adonai has said to me, ‘You are not to cross over this Jordan.’ 3 Adonai your God—He will cross over before you. He will destroy these nations from before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua will cross over before you, just as Adonai has promised.
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong! Be courageous! For you are to go with this people into the land Adonai has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you are to enable them to inherit it. 8 Adonai—He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.” TLV
Attention: How many birthdays have you celebrated? Birthdays are usually all about the one having the birthday. Either you are celebrating someone else, or they are celebrating you. Instead, Moses turns the tables and calls the Hebrew nation together and gives them a message of encouragement. He prophetically tells the nation what Adonai is going to do for them. Right before their eyes, Adonai “will destroy these nations from before you, and you will dispossess them.” So, “Chazak! Be courageous! Do not be afraid or tremble before them. For Adonai your God—He is the One who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.”
Moses has led the nation for over forty years, being the key man, used by God to set His people free from slavery by the Egyptians. He has been God’s point man to whom He gave the Ten Words (Commandments) and the entirety of the Torah of God. God has performed miracles before the Hebrew nation through the staff of Moses. Now God tells him he will soon rest with his fathers, but He has a couple more tasks for him. He is to call the nation together and give a message which will invoke courage about the days ahead. He is to summon Joshua and commission him to lead the nation and we will see tomorrow, Adonai commissions Moses to write a new song and teach it to the nation.
Have you ever heard a new song which has a tune or melody which you bring up the next day and you find yourself singing it? I imagine that Moses’ song was like that. The Hebrew nation found themselves singing it, reminding them to be courageous, for Adonai was going before them to give them the land.
Today, let’s be courageous about tomorrow. My wife just told me she has found out that several people we know are all facing surgical procedures on the same day next week. Why can we be courageous about tomorrow? Because the same God of the Hebrews promises to be with us. His presence is everything. I encourage you to stay in His presence, every minute of every hour of every day.
Action: I choose to stay in the presence of the Almighty, Sovereign Adonai.
Yield: I choose to let Adonai go before me into the battles of my life.
Engage: I choose to engage with the help of the Holy Spirit in being courageous.
Relationship: I choose to stay in close, intimate relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, I pray today for all who are facing life threatening illnesses. May they be courageous because they know You and know Your presence is everything. Thank You for living and dwelling in me. Amen.
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 31:8
8 Adonai—He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be discouraged.” TLV
Music Video: Chris Tomlin—Whom Shall I Fear https://youtu.be/qOkImV2cJDg
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”