Place yourself in the position of a married man and woman preparing to have a baby. Imagine the great rush of excitement filling their hearts as they eagerly anticipate the unspeakable joy of cuddling a baby, the blissful delight from playing with him or her, and the satisfying pride of him or her maturing to adulthood. However, parallel with this excitement is a growing fear of the many trials and tribulations common to parenthood. Though you anticipate much joy, you know much sorrow will come from the child’s misbehavior, great frustration will result from striving to discipline him or her, and great heartache will be endured from seeing him or her suffer the consequences of poor life choices. Nevertheless, even though the parents know their child will be born with a sinful, rebellious nature, they still lovingly choose to bring him or her into the world in hopes that the child will grow to be a mature, successful, and blessed adult.
“So Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them, “I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not go over this Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God himself will go over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, so that you shall dispossess them, and Joshua will go over at your head, as the Lord has spoken. 4 And the Lord will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them. 5 And the Lord will give them over to you, and you shall do to them according to the whole commandment that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
“7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.””
A great wealth of typology is present in this passage. For example, Moses is a representation of the Law. As Romans 3:20 states, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Moses’ inability to lead the Israelites into the Promise Land is a representation of the law’s inability to lead us to justification before God. Furthermore, the reason for Moses’ inability to lead Israel into the Promise Land is yet another picture of this Scriptural truth. As seen in Numbers 20:10-12, Moses could not enter the land because he misrepresented God by striking the rock twice. This alludes to Christ’s sacrifice, who only needed to be struck (i.e., die) once for our salvation. Furthermore, Moses striking the rock twice and forfeiting the ability to lead Israel into the Promise Land represents the absolute futility of trying to use good works to enter Christ’s salvation. As Ephesians 2:8-9 state, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
In contrast to Moses, Joshua is a representation of Christ. An example of this is his name, which is “God is salvation” in Hebrew and Jesus in Greek. Another example is Joshua’s call to succeed Moses. This represents Christ and His work of salvation establishing God’s New Covenant, liberating us from being under the Law to being under grace through Christ. Furthermore, Joshua’s role in leading the Israelites into the Promise Land is symbolic of Christ’s role in leading us back to communion with God the Father. Moses could only bring the Israelites to the Promise Land, but Joshua alone could lead them into it. Likewise, the Law could not bring us to salvation, but Christ alone was worthy to do so through His perfect life, death, and resurrection. As Galatians 3:23-24 state, “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” Finally, as God used Joshua to deliver the Israelites from the inhabitants from the Promise Land, so did Jesus deliver us from our sins.
Beyond the typology, this passage contains great encouragement for us when serving God. Specifically, we see His omniscience, with Him knowing of all the great trials and tribulations that awaited the Israelites within the Promise Land. However, because He knew the outcome of their upcoming wars, God promised the people He would go before them, arranging through His sovereignty the conditions necessary for their victory while also being with them to secure their victory so long as they obeyed Him.
Likewise, for us, God promises His protection when we obey Him. For example, Proverbs 2:7-8 proclaim, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.” Also, He promises to be our strength in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Finally, Isaiah 54:17 promises God’s protection even amid danger and difficulties, “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Thus, as God promised to protect Israel and fulfilled said promise, He likewise promises to protect us and will be faithful to do so.
“9 Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
We see here the great emphasis God places on His people studying His Word. This seventh year was the Sabbath Year commanded by God in Leviticus 25:1-7, where the Israelites were instructed to abstain from planting or harvesting anything from the land. Towards the end of this year, all Israel was commanded to come before God to hear and learn His Law so they would know and obey it. As noted in Deuteronomy 11:26-28, their knowledge of and obedience to His Word determined whether they received God’s blessing or cursing, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.”
Likewise for us, although quiet time studying the Bible is easy to dismiss or justify missing due to busyness, Scripture notes how crucial it is to our walk with God. For example, our availability to serve Him is dependent on allowing God to speak through His Word to teach, correct, and train us, for 2 Timothy 3:16-17 note “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Next, studying His Word is crucial to receiving God’s leading for our life, for Psalm 119:105 states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Finally, Bible study and meditation make our hearts and lives available for His blessings, for Joshua 1:8 states, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.” Thus, as Israel’s survival and prosperity in the Promise Land depended on their studying of and obedience to God’s Word, so does our capacity to serve Him, ability to receive His leading, and availability to receive His blessings.
14 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. 15 And the Lord appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent.
16 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. 17 Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they will be devoured. And many evils and troubles will come upon them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?’ 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day because of all the evil that they have done, because they have turned to other gods.
19 “Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel. 20 For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant. 21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.” 22 So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel.
23 And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.”
It is astounding to consider that Joshua was present when God revealed to Moses the Israelites’ horrific destiny. Even before they were brought into the Promise Land, God knew that they would become complacent, fall into idolatry, and commit heinous sins due to their hearts’ evil, self-centered intentions. Undoubtedly, this revelation was shared with Joshua, leaving him burdened with this discouraging knowledge while still being responsible for playing a key role in fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Despite having foreknowledge of Israel’s future, Joshua obediently fulfilled his calling.
Going back to the illustration of the parents, although they lack God’s omniscience, every parent knows their child will be far from perfect. They anticipate the struggles of parenthood and the rebellious behavior their child will exhibit. Nevertheless, they know the many joys that the child will bring and consider these positives to greatly outweigh the negatives. This perspective encourages the parents to bring the child into the world.
Likewise, for us, God in His foreknowledge knew from eternity past that we would rebel against Him and deserve His eternal judgment. He knew Adam would rebel and bring sin and death upon the whole human race. However, just like the Lord gave the Israelites Joshua to bring them into the Promise Land despite their rebellious hearts, so did God give us Christ to earn our salvation despite our sinful natures. This was God’s perfect plan of redemption from the beginning, for Ephesians 1:3-6 explain, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Despite our wretched hearts and abominable sins, God was motivated by His unfathomable love to send Christ, as Romans 5:8 states, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Thus, Joshua’s obedience in bringing Israel into the Promise Land despite his knowledge of their future rebellion illustrates God sending Christ to earn our salvation despite Him knowing all humanity would sin and fall short of His glory.
“24 When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, 25 Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, 26 “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death! 28 Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”
30 Then Moses spoke the words of this song until they were finished, in the ears of all the assembly of Israel:”
It is amazing to consider that despite God knowing Israel would fail miserably and repeatedly turn their backs on Him, He still mercifully helped them enter the Promise Land. He did this not only to fulfill His promises to their forefathers, but to also use them for His plans, especially bringing Christ into the world. Thus, despite their extreme flaws and failures, God remained faithful to His people and still used them for His glory.
This same level of unending faithfulness God displayed a few thousand years ago is also ours to claim today. Like Israel, God knows through His foreknowledge all the failures and mistakes we will make throughout our lives. As 1 John 1:8 states, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Also, Ecclesiastes 7:20 restates this truth, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” Thankfully, our sins do not cause God to abandon or give up on us.
First, Jesus Christ, through His life on earth as being fully God and fully man, is able to directly relate to our temptations and frailty, for Hebrews 4:15 states, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Next, God both anticipates our weaknesses and actually uses them for His glory, as 2 Corinthians 12:9 reveals, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” In addition, Christ’s salvation provides immediate access to recovery from our rebellion through confession and repentance, for 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Finally, just as God was faithful to His people in Scripture, He promises to be faithful to us today as well, for Lamentations 3:22-23 proclaim, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Thus, no flaw, mistake, or sin in our lives is outside the bounds of God’s perfect forgiveness and love, whose infallible faithfulness will exact discipline when necessary, restore us when we confess and repent from our sins, and work all our failures for our good and His glory.
Deuteronomy 31 is a window into the infallibly faithful, forever merciful, and lovingly patient heart of God. Although He knew the Israelites’ wicked intentions and the grievous failures they would fall into, He still provided them Joshua to graciously lead them into the Promise Land. Likewise, though He knew all humanity would fall into sin and His people would continue to struggle with it despite receiving forgiveness, He still sent Christ into the world to die for our transgressions and provide the sole way back to the Father. Furthermore, even beyond this indescribable act of faithfulness, the Lord promises to never abandon believers today, despite our continual mistakes, failures, and sins. As He still fulfilled His promises and plans through Israel despite their great multitude of failures and sins, so will God be faithful do the same for us.