Deuteronomy 31

Joshua is rewarded for his faithfulness and is chosen to lead the nation:

Numbers 14:6-9 (WEB) “Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes. They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, ‘The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us: a land which flows with milk and honey. Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.’ “

This is not the only time they should repeat the covenant. Every seven years they are to gather and remember how God wants them to live. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough. They will still rebel, and God will punish them. Moses, before his death, has one more task. He writes a song which will end up being a testimony against the nation when they rebel.

Thought for the day: One of the parallels that we can draw between our experiences and the experience of Israel is the redemptive power of suffering in our lives. We’re reminded again that God will bring calamity upon them when they don’t follow Him the way they should. The same is true in our lives as well. God uses the bad things in our lives to encourage us to turn back to Him and to make us more like Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:10-11 (WEB) “For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”