Verzot haBracha/and this is the blessing
Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12
Joshua 1:1-18
This week’s torah and haftorah deal with transitions of leadership; not just a change in the leader themselves, but also how the Holy One of Israel interacts with the people, through that person. Moses of course had something very special:
Deut. 34:10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, 12 and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Here is the ‘transition’ I’m feeling: “Moses performed in the sight of all Israel”, pretty focused on the man Moses (of course God was there). That’s why it took this:
9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
All needed to see this impartation for a smooth ‘transition’, but in the end it was of course The Lord God Almighty choosing the man, Joshua! What however seems to have changed, is that though he is ‘gifted’ to lead; it now becomes more about the vision for all the people to share and participate in. For now, Moses is left to die on the ‘other side’ or the Jordan, unable to enter into the promised Land (though he gets there during the transfiguration of Jesus). I love the way The Holy One of Israel empowers Joshua to lead:
Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.
No, “Well you know that Moses was amazing and you have a lot to live up to”, but “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go…”. It probably freaked Joshua out a bit, but it also let him feel the complete confidence the Living God had in what He was going to accomplish with this young man and this nation of God’s choosing (maybe a good lesson for ‘retiring’ leaders). And some more confidence from the Holy One, blessed be He:
3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you…5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you…I will not leave you nor forsake you.
Now comes Joshua’s part:
6 Be strong and of good courage…7 Only be strong and very courageous… 9 Be strong and of good courage…
I’m sure we could all say that the fact that the Land had giants, would be cause to need courage…which in a natural sense, is so true, but I want to submit to us another kind of courage that we all need. Whether fighting literal giants (some are literal and require even believers going to war) and some ‘spiritual’ giants, but either way God’s declaration of courage is to prepare Joshua and the people (and us) to face it all:
7…that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
The unfortunate reality for most of us is that it takes courage to stay in the word of God and let it form us and inform us as how to live in order to take the ‘land’ of our lives, that the Holy One of Israel has ordained for each of us! There is kind of a ‘built in temptation’ or even intimidation by society to not get “too serious about that ‘God stuff’”. Father, we thank you for Your glorious word that is more than paper and ink; we desire to receive Your word as a living word so just like You promised Joshua and the children of Israel: “Now therefore, arise, go … you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them…” Take your Land! By john eisner
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