February 26 2025 - Deuteronomy 31-34

Moses was about to die, and Joshua would take his place as leader of Israel.  Human leaders come and go, don’t they?  And it can be difficult when a particularly effective and beloved leader goes away, either in death or to another role.  Sometimes, when this happens, discouraged, people will fall away thinking something like, “Nothing will ever be the same, again.”  Well, of course not!  Here’s the thing, though, though people change and circumstances change, our God does not.  Moses says to the people, “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” (31:6).  Though Joshua will be there for the people, Moses emphasizes IT IS THE LORD YOUR GOD WHO GOES WITH YOU.  In all of life, through ups and downs, our gaze must ultimately be upon our God who is ever faithful.  Those whose eyes are elsewhere will indeed be discouraged but those whose eyes are firmly set on the Lord will live with hope and go from joy to joy.  Our God is faithful!

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered

and confidently waiting, come what may,

we know that God is with us night and morning,

and never fails to meet us each new day.

Yet are our hearts by their old foe tormented;

still evil days bring burdens hard to bear;

O give our frightened souls the sure salvation

for which, O Lord, you taught us to prepare.

And when the cup you give is filled to brimming

with bitter suffering, hard to understand,

we take it gladly, trusting though with trembling,

out of so good and so beloved a hand.   --Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1944)