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In this “post”-pandemic era, the researchers tell us that there is a marked increase in the number of people who are discouraged, anxious and fearful about their lives, the times in which we live, and what lies ahead on the horizon. The increase appears to cut across all of society, including those who indicate they are followers of Jesus. This isn’t the first time that discouragement, anxiety and fear have been on the rise – and it would do us well to learn from those who have gone before us.
A transition in leadership was about to occur among the Israelites.(1) A respected leader was about to step down, and a new leader was about to take his place. The incoming leader had seen enough to know that he was stepping into a daunting task – prompting increased anxiety and fear over what could occur. There was a need for assurance and admonition – the need for a word aptly spoken. Perhaps we, too, need to hear those same words ourselves.
Moses had been the undershepherd of the Israelites for forty years. He was the one through whom God had led this people through the wilderness in times of plenty, times of victory and times of faithfulness. But God didn’t call him to lead only in the good times; he was the leader even when the people rebelled – even when they were experiencing times of scarcity, times of defeat, times of disease, and times of faithlessness. He heard their complaints and their murmurings. He was the recipient of frequent criticism. As the need arose, he was their advocate, their mediator, their judge, their disciplinarian, their teacher, their pastor, their general, their leader and their friend. No one knew the responsibilities that Joshua was about to assume better than Moses. No other man truly understood the weight of the burden of responsibility that he was about to shoulder.
Now before you correct me – i know that God was the Leader of the people. i know that the responsibility and the burden were God’s. And i know that we are called to lay down our burdens upon Him. But Jesus did say, “Take My yoke upon you…. My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”(2) Our Lord takes the weight of that responsibility, but if we are going to take up His cross and follow Him, there is a burden. And He has promised that He will enable us to bear that burden. And He will never give us a burden that He will not enable us to bear.
With that understanding, Moses called for Joshua to give him his final words of instruction and encouragement. As the mantle of leadership now completely transferred from one man to the other, these words – these final words – are words of blessing and admonition. As each one of us continue in the journey God has set before us, it would behoove us to listen to and receive these words of instruction as well.
BE STRONG. The Lord God Jehovah is your strength. He is upholding you with His righteous right hand.(3)He has armed you with strength for the battle.(4) Even in our weakness, His strength is made perfect.(5) Do not look to your own strength; look to His. Do not rely on your own ability; rely on His. God will allow you to encounter situations that will test your strength. You will only pass through the test as you rely on His strength. His strength is not something you work up to; it is His gift that He freely gives, if we will but submit and ask. Look at Jesus – the first time He came, He did not come as a warrior, He came as a Servant – surrendered and submitted to the Father. And ALL strength and power were given unto Him. Be that surrendered and submitted servant – and as you are, you will be made strong.
BE COURAGEOUS. Moses said it here as well, “The LORD goes before you.”(6) You are not alone. When i was a young boy, i recall an incident with a bully in our neighborhood that had at least six inches and fifty pounds on me. This kid intimidated the stew out of me. But whenever i was walking in the neighborhood with one of my older brothers, i didn’t give this kid a thought. There was no way he would mess with me while i was walking with one of my brothers. i had a courage that came from a confidence in the one with whom i was walking. The same principle applies here. Don’t forget with Whom you are walking! There is nothing that you will encounter that He is not able to overcome. The bullies will flee - because they know if they don’t, they’re going to get a “pounding.” Walk with confidence in Him – and as you do, you will be courageous.
DO NOT BE AFRAID. The Lord has promised, “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. …I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”(7) God does not promise us a journey free of difficulty, but He does promise to walk with us through the difficulty. The only fear that our Lord intends us to have is a healthy fear – a holy reverence and awe – of Him. We are not children of darkness – children of fear – we are children of the Light. Walk boldly in His light – and as you do, you will not be afraid.
DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Discouragement arises when, in the midst of difficulty, we take our eyes off of our God and put them on our circumstances. Paul wrote, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”(8) Our Lord will be with you; “He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”(9) The same God who delivered His people from the bondage of Egypt and cared for His people through the wilderness led His people into His Promised Land. That was true then … and it is just as true today!
Do not allow the “little foxes” that nip at your heels to cause you to become downcast and discouraged. Look up at your Heavenly Father – His Person, His power and His promise – and as you do, you will not be discouraged.
Just as Moses knew the admonition that Joshua needed, our Heavenly Father knows even more the words that we need at this stage in our journey. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid and do not be discouraged. The same God who led the Israelites will lead you through whatever you are experiencing in your journey and on into the promised land He has planned for you!
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A portion of this post is adapted from The Wandering Years, chapter 59. This second book in the Lessons Learned In The Wilderness series is available through Amazon in print or for your e-reader. Click HERE for more information on how you can obtain your copy of the book.
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(1) Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (NLT)
Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched he said to him, "Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the LORD swore to give their ancestors. You are the one who will deliver it to them as their inheritance. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you."
(2) Matthew 11:29-30 (NLT)
(3) Isaiah 41:10
(4) Psalm 18:39
(6) Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
(7) Isaiah 43:2-5 (NLT)
(8) 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)
(9) Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
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