Deuteronomy 31:6-8 - “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

[7] And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.

[8] And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

In this passage, Moses reached 120 years old and was concerned about the people he led out of Egypt. He knew he could not be with them anymore, for he was not allowed by God to cross the river Jordan because of his disobedience in striking the rock instead of only talking to the rock. (Numbers 20:1-12.)

Despite the consequence of his sin, Moses never lost his trust in the Lord. In this text, he reminds Joshua and the people to “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid…” Moses understands the challenges they will be facing ahead, and he also knows that God is always faithful and will never leave them nor forsake them.

Many people lost their trust in God after seeing the sad realities of life. I know of some individuals who were raised in a Christian home and the Church who totally abandoned the faith that they claimed to believe. After seeing the sufferings of men, they started to ask where God was to protect them.

Moses also saw man’s suffering, but instead of questioning God, he answered the call. He was not only looking at the physical needs of men but also their eternal needs.

Like Moses, we should not allow difficult circumstances, even how dire they are, to lose our faith in God, the only source of help and protection. We must share with the hurting the grace of God, who is the only solution, rather than focusing on the problem that will make us more angry and confused.

He encouraged Joshua and the people to proceed and be willing to encounter whatever challenges or Giants they meet, for God is already there waiting for them.

Like Moses, we have the faith to be strong and not to be a liability in the service of the Lord. Whatever difficulty we go through is a great testimony of faith that will inspire and empower us and others.

Our Prayer for today

Gracious Lord, we want to have the faith of Moses and his resilience to remain faithful to your faithfulness despite the difficulties he encountered in seeing others suffer. He never lost his faith but strengthened his desire to trust in You, who is the only solution and the only answer. Forgive us that often, we allow ourselves to focus more on the problem than on the opportunity. We look at the situation more than the solution. Help us to share with the hurting the comfort and hope only found in Christ. In Jesus Name, Amen!