Blessing, Death, New Leadership and Spies (March 24)

Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing:

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.  He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo...Then the Lord said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.'  I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.


Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever  you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.  Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you."

We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.

Then they said to Joshua, "The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."
                                                                 From Deuteronomy 33 to Joshua 2 NIV

One's greatest hope is to be abounding with the favor of the Lord.  By following the Spirit with humble obedience, our hope is to hear a "Well done good and faithful servant."  The Israelites needed to keep the law to obtain righteousness, God's blessing, protection, refuge and guidance.  Keeping the law was a tall order, for we have read about how many times God was angered by disobedience.  God knows the secret places of the human heart.  He certainly knew the Israelite's hearts with his prediction of early disobedience.

Moses' life ends with this lesson.  Remember his traits as we continue to read about Israel.  Think about him as a role model and how God can use a man who does not follow commands perfectly all the time, yet continues to seek God.  Consider God's perfect timing of Moses' death, a time of transition in geography, leadership and lifestyle for the Israelites.  For an exercise, one might think how the account might have been different if Moses' life ended at the waters of Meribah Kadesh or even in the promised land.  One may miss Moses in the future readings, for he is a fine example of a doubting man who is given an awesome task and with God's grace, guidance and strength completes the task.

Consider Joshua's possible response to the Israelites affirmation of obedience to him.  One can only wonder if Joshua was encouraged or dismayed by the Israelites statement, "Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you."

How is it possible to know if one is fully in the favor of the Lord?

How are you fully obedient?

How does God's faithfulness inspire you today?

Pray for those in transitions.


In Christ,

David P.