Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. And he said to them, ‘I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The LORD has said to me, “You shall not go over this Jordan.” The LORD your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the LORD has spoken.’ … Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’” — Deuteronomy 31:1–3, 7–8 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

Here in Deuteronomy 31, we arrive at a critical juncture in the spiritual life of the people of Israel. Moses begins the chapter by acknowledging what must have been a painful truth: he would not lead the people across the Jordan into the Promised Land. For forty years, Moses had been the human leader God used to guide Israel. He had stood before Pharaoh, led them out of Egypt, received God’s law at Mount Sinai, interceded for them when they sinned, and led them through the wilderness. Now that season was coming to an end.

That realization was probably difficult not only for Moses but for the people as well. Israel had certainly rebelled against Moses’ leadership on numerous occasions, but they couldn’t deny that God had been with him. Moses had been the familiar leader through nearly every crisis they had faced. Now they stood on the edge of the Promised Land facing fortified cities, powerful armies, and an uncertain future—and Moses was telling them, “I’m not going with you.”

Moses may have had concerns of his own. Later in this chapter, God tells him that after his death the people would turn away and rebel. Perhaps Moses was already wondering what would happen to them when he was gone. Joshua may have wondered whether he was capable of filling Moses’ shoes. And the people may have wondered whether Joshua could possibly lead them as Moses had.

Those were perfectly natural concerns. But Moses directs everyone’s attention away from the human leader and toward the One who had actually been leading them all along. “The LORD your God himself will go over before you.” Joshua would lead Israel, but Joshua was not ultimately Israel’s leader. God was.

That was true during Moses’ ministry too. Moses hadn’t delivered Israel from Egypt by his own strength. In fact, when God first called him, Moses was frightened and reluctant and complained that he wasn’t a good speaker. Yet God used him mightily because the power behind Moses’ leadership was never Moses. It was God.

Now God would use Joshua. Joshua had already demonstrated his faith when he and Caleb returned from spying out Canaan and trusted that God could give Israel the land. But Joshua’s qualifications, courage, and experience weren’t ultimately the reason Israel could move forward confidently. Moses tells him why he could be courageous: “It is the LORD who goes before you.”

There’s an important lesson here for God’s people today. Churches need godly leaders, and Scripture gives us qualifications for those who serve as pastors and elders. We should be careful and prayerful when choosing those who will lead God’s people. But we must never confuse the human leader with the One who ultimately leads the church.

That also means we need to be careful about the qualities we value in spiritual leaders. The world is often impressed by appearance, charisma, personality, eloquence, influence, and popularity. Israel would eventually make that mistake when they were impressed by Saul’s physical stature. Churches can make similar mistakes when we become more interested in a leader’s charisma or ability to tell people what they want to hear than in his character.

Far more important are spiritual maturity, faithfulness to God’s Word, a heart for God’s people, a desire to follow Christ above everything else, and the courage to speak truth even when that truth is inconvenient or unpopular.

And leaders themselves need to remember this lesson. God’s work doesn’t depend upon us. Moses had been extraordinarily important in Israel’s history, but God’s plan wasn’t going to collapse when Moses died. God had another servant prepared, and ultimately it was God Himself who would take His people across the Jordan.

That’s incredibly freeing. We should serve faithfully wherever God places us, but none of us carries God’s kingdom on our shoulders. Pastors change. Leaders come and go. Generations pass away. But God remains.

That’s why Moses could look at Joshua and say, “Be strong and courageous.” And it’s why Israel could move forward without fear. Their confidence wasn’t ultimately in Moses or even in Joshua. Their confidence was in the Lord.

The same encouragement applies to leaders and to those being led today: “He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Our leaders may change. Our circumstances certainly will. But the One who leads His people never does.

Reflection Questions

1. Have I ever placed so much confidence in a particular pastor or spiritual leader that I’ve forgotten that Christ is ultimately the One who leads His church?
2. What qualities do I tend to value most in spiritual leaders? Are they primarily outward qualities like personality, charisma, and speaking ability, or biblical qualities like character, faithfulness, and spiritual maturity?
3. If God has placed me in a position of leadership, do I sometimes act as though everything depends upon me instead of trusting God to accomplish His purposes?
4. What situation am I facing right now in which I need to remember Moses’ words: “It is the LORD who goes before you”?

Closing Prayer Father, thank You that Your work never depends upon the strength or ability of any one person. Thank You for the godly leaders You place in our lives, and give us wisdom to recognize leaders who love You, love Your Word, care for Your people, and are willing to speak the truth. Keep us from putting our confidence in human personalities instead of in You. When You call us to lead, help us to serve faithfully and humbly, remembering that the work belongs to You. And when circumstances or leaders change, help us to be strong and courageous because You go before us. Thank You that You will never leave us or forsake us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.