Deuteronomy 31:1 - Meaning and Application

People often say goodbye several times when they are reluctant to part. Moses does that here to the Israelites, not because he is unwilling to go to God, but because he is reluctant to leave them. He fears that once he is gone, they may turn away from God. He has finished giving them counsel and warning, and now he gathers them to give words of encouragement, especially about the wars in Canaan, which they are about to face.

It must have been hard for them to lose Moses at such a time, when he could seem so hard to replace. Joshua, their new leader, would still fight for them in the valley, but they would no longer have Moses praying for them on the hill, as he had done before (Exodus 17:10). Yet there was no way around it. Moses could no longer go out and come in with them, meaning he could no longer lead them in public life and military duty (Deuteronomy 31:2). This was not because his body or mind had grown weak, since his strength had not failed him (Deuteronomy 24:7).

Rather, Moses could no longer carry out his office for two reasons. First, he was 120 years old, and it was time for him to lay down his honor and enter his rest. At a time when people often lived to seventy or eighty, as Moses himself had once said in prayer (Psalm 90:10), he had truly lived out a full life. Second, God had already spoken sentence over him: he would not cross the Jordan. So God put a stop to his usefulness in that work. He had come this far, served this far, and could go no farther. Moses accepts this, and there is wisdom in that. None of us should wish to live longer than the time God has given us for his work, and we are not answerable for more time than he appoints.

Even so, though Moses could not cross over himself, he still cared deeply about encouraging those who would.

He first encourages the people, and no commander ever strengthened his army on better grounds than Moses does here. He assures them of God’s steady presence. The Lord their God, who had led them and kept them until now, would go before them into the land (Deuteronomy 31:3). Those could move forward with courage who knew God himself was their leader. Moses repeats this promise with special emphasis in verse 6: the Lord their God, the great Jehovah who belongs to them by covenant, is the one who goes before them. He not only promised to lead them, but also showed his presence through the ark, the visible sign that he was really going with them.

Moses adds more. God would not only go before them at the start, but would stay with them all the way, with them and their children. He would not fail them or leave them. He would not disappoint them in any hard place, and he would never abandon their cause. If they remained faithful to him, he would remain faithful to them. The apostle later uses this same promise to encourage all God’s people in faith and hope: “He will never fail you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Moses also presents Joshua to them as their leader. Joshua would go before them into the land (Deuteronomy 31:3). They already knew his courage, skill, and sincere care for their good. God had appointed him to this task, so God would surely own him, bless him, and make him a blessing to the people as well (Numbers 27:18). It is a great comfort to a people when God raises up new servants to continue his work after others are removed.

Moses also assures them of success. Even the best generals, with the best support, cannot promise victory in war, because battles often turn on unexpected events. The stronger side does not always win, and a sudden accident can change everything. But Moses had God’s word that Israel would conquer, even though they seemed to face real disadvantages. A fearful soldier can still fight when victory is sure. God himself would do the main work, destroying these nations, and Israel would then take possession of their land (Deuteronomy 31:3).

Two things should strengthen their hope. First, they had already defeated Sihon and Og, two powerful kings east of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 31:4). From those victories they could learn both God’s power and God’s purpose. He had done great things already, and he would finish what he had begun. We should learn to use past mercy as a support for present faith.

Second, God had already commanded them to destroy the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 12:2). Moses refers back to that command here, telling them to do to those nations everything he had commanded (Deuteronomy 31:5). If God had made it their duty, then surely he would give them the chance and help to carry it out. When God commands a task, we have good reason to expect his help in doing it.

For all these reasons, Moses had strong grounds to tell them to be strong and of good courage (Deuteronomy 31:6). As long as they had God on their side, they had no reason to fear all the powers of Canaan against them.

Moses then encourages Joshua, too (Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:8). Joshua was already an experienced commander, brave and steady, and had shown himself in many good deeds. Yet Moses still finds it right to urge him to be strong and courageous as he enters a new stage of service. Joshua does not take this as an insult or a question about his courage. Some proud people might twist a warning into an offense, but Joshua receives Moses’ charge well.

Moses gives this charge before all Israel, so the people will pay close attention to the man being publicly set apart as their leader. It also helps Joshua to know that the whole nation is watching, and that he must set an example of courage before them. Moses gives Joshua the same promise of God’s presence that he gave the people. God would be with him, would not leave him, and would bring him through the great task he had been given. He would lead the people to inherit the promised land.

Those who have God with them will do well, and for that reason they should be brave. Through God we can act bravely, because through him we will win in the end. If we resist the devil, he will flee, and God will soon put him under our feet.