Deuteronomy 31:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 31:1-13. Let’s go!
Deuteronomy 31:1-6 (NIV)
1 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel:
2 “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’
3 The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said.
4 And the LORD will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land.
5 The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
On verses 1-6: In Deuteronomy 31, 120 year old Moses knows his time on earth is almost up (v2). He does his best to prepare the Israelites to conquer the land that God promised to them. He reassures them that God will help them succeed (v3-5a) and reminds them to obey God (v5b). He tells them to be strong and courageous and that though he will not always be with them, God will never leave them or forsake them (v6).
Similarly, if you want to step into the destiny that God has for you, you need to be strong and courageous. Remember that courage is not never feeling afraid; rather, it’s the willingness to move forward even when you feel afraid. Courage is a choice, not a feeling. If you want to win the race God made you to run, you need to be courageous.
Are you facing a scary situation? Be strong and courageous. Like Moses says, the reason why you can be courageous is because God is with you: as verse 6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you”. For reasons beyond your control, other people will leave you, but God will never leave you. God’s presence and God’s promises are two big reasons why you can be strong and courageous.
Deuteronomy 31:6 is a verse I keep coming back to over and over in my life. I encourage you to do the same. Memorize this verse and recite it whenever you’re tempted to give into fear.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (NIV)
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
On verses 7-8: Moses had a similar message for Joshua personally – “be strong and courgeous” – especially as Joshua was getting ready to take over leadership of the nation of Israel. Moses knew that as a leader Joshua would face times of discouragement as every leader does. So Moses tell Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (v8)
Since you too are called to be a leader in God’s kingdom, it’s important that you also kick out discouragement when it comes. How do you do that? One way is to remember that the LORD “will be with you”. Fear loosens its grip on you when you know that Almighty God is with you. Another way is to remember that “The LORD himself goes before you” (v8). Anywhere you go, God is already there. He goes before you. Thus you can know, even when the place you’re in is dark or discouraging, that the LORD is writing a greater story with your life, so don’t be discouraged. Because of Jesus, there’s hope for a brighter day.
Those are the two reasons you can be courageous: because (1) God is with you and (2) He goes before you.
Deuteronomy 31:9-13 (NIV)
9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.
10 Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles,
11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.
12 Assemble the people–men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns–so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.
13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
On verses 9-13: Moses tells the priests that every seven years, during the biggest feast of the Jewish calendar called the Feast of Tabernacles, they are to read God’s law out loud for everyone — men, women, children and foreigners — to hear. Why? It’s “so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD” (v12) and follow the law of Moses. It’s interesting that in Deuteronomy 31:1-13 Moses touches on both being courageous and fearing God. These two things – being courageous and fearing God – are not contradictory but go together. You need both courage and a fear of God to be successful.
What does it mean to “fear God”? It means to revere God, to respect His Word and to want to live your life to please Him. Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10 both say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Where does the fear of God come from? Moses understood this important principle to spiritual growth: Fearing God begins with hearing God. If you want to grow in your fear of God, you must first get into the habit of hearing God’s Word. That’s why having a GAME time that includes reading God’s Word every day is so important.
Also, if you want those in your care to fear God, you must let them hear the word of God often. Parents, I encourage you to read God’s Word with your young children every day — not just at church but at home as well. Train them to read and remember God’s Word on their own. This is key to having a God-fearing home and to helping those we lead become the successes God made them to be.
Father, thank You that because You are with me and You will never leave me or forsake me, I can be strong and courageous. At the same time, thank You for Your Word that helps me to fear You the way I should. Courage because of You and fear of You — I pray I would live with both today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
