Tues.’s Devo - The Commissions

Read: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27; Luke 12:8-34; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 12:21-23 God had given them the example of what they would do when they got into the land. He had given them victory over Og and Sihon. They would do the same to the people in the land he was giving them. *** Moses brought Joshua forward in the audience of all the people and commissioned him to be strong and courageous because the Lord would go before them. ***Then Moses gave the priests and the sons of Levi a copy of the law and told them to read it aloud to the people every seven years in the year of jubilee and at the Feast of Tabernacles. *** God told Moses he was about to die and sleep with his family. He was to bring Joshua to the tent of meeting where the Lord would commission him to lead them in Moses’ place. *** After Moses dies, the people will break his laws and follow after other gods. God will become so angry with them, he will abandon them. All the evils promised them will come upon them. *** Moses was to teach them a song as a witness to them when they sinned. Moses wrote the song and taught it to the people, all in one day! Then the Lord commissioned Joshua, commanding him to be strong and courageous and bring the people into their land. Moses met with the elders of the tribes and told them that he knew that after he died they would sin and turn against the Lord. *** The song reminds them of their past and all the Lord did for them and their fathers, then it gives them a picture of their future sins. The song was given so that in the future when they are in the midst of the consequences of their idolatry, they will remember this song and repent. *** In Luke, Jesus explains that what we confess now is what we will confess in eternity, so it is imperative that we have the right confession now. When we have to defend the truth, the Holy Spirit will help us say the right thing. *** Jesus then gives us a story to illustrate that he is not talking about what we accomplish or attain on earth that is important. It is our testimony that will stand. Nothing else will follow us into eternity. *** We do not have to worry about the necessities of living, we are to seek life and God’s kingdom. God will take care of all our needs. God gives us nature to show us how much he cares about everything he made. *** Lord, thank you for reminding us that our treasure is in heaven. The treasure is You and your presence. Thank you that you never leave us and never forsake us.