11 December Deuteronomy 31

Be led by God

Deuteronomy 31:1-5 (NIV) “Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Israelites' leadership changed. Moses stepped down, and Joshua became their new leader, tasked with leading them to the Promised Land. However, the most important leader wasn’t Moses or Joshua, it was God Himself. Moses reminded the people that God would lead the way. Are you aware of God leading the way in your life? Following where God has already prepared the way is a special privilege.

When God goes ahead of you, He sincerely cares about the outcome. He leads to show you the way, guide and protect you, and prepare things for your journey. In other words, God does much of the work, even though His actions are often behind the scenes.

God told the children of Israel not to be afraid or tremble but to stand firm and be of good courage. He guarantees His divine presence at every stage of their journey to the Promised Land, and now, even when entering the Promised Land, He will be with them.

Be strong and courageous. This means to look beyond your physical strength, for without it, your physical strength will fail. The One who gives strength is telling us to be strong. He is the everlasting God, the Lord, and the Creator of everything. He never gets tired or weak; no one can fully understand His wisdom. As the Bible says in Isaiah 40:29 (NIV) "He gives power to the weak and increases the strength of the powerless”.

When we recognise God’s strength in our lives, we are given courage. Courage comes from fully trusting in God. This courage allows us to face any challenge boldly. True strength and courage come only from God, through Jesus Christ, as we follow His plans and purposes. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV) “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. In confirmation Paul writes to Timothy saying this: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”.

He will never leave you nor forsake you. The presence of God secures the believers. The enemies cannot withstand His presence. As smoke is driven away, as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish in the presence of God. Psalm 68:2 (NIV) “May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God”.

In conclusion, the message is clear: God must lead us. Just as the Israelites were assured of God's presence and guidance in their journey, we, too, can trust in His unchanging promise to go ahead of us, prepare the way, and be with us through every challenge. True strength and courage do not come from within us but from trusting in the God who never grows weary, who strengthens the weak, and whose presence drives away every fear.

Let us align our lives with His plans, knowing He equips us with power, love, and self-discipline.

So be strong and courageous. Trust in the God who goes before you, stands beside you, and never leaves or forsakes you. His presence secures you, and His power works on your behalf. Step forward in faith, knowing the Lord is your leader, protector, and ever-present help.