Deuteronomy 31:9-29

Deuteronomy 31:9-29

As Deuteronomy 31 continues, we see one of the reasons why the Feast of Booths was important. Once Israel crossed into the Promised Land, they would not be able to gather together in one large group, something that they had probably grown accustomed to. The land was so large, that they would be spread out with miles between each tribe. In fact, some tribes would live on the eastern side of the Jordan River once the land had been conquered. This is why the Feast of Booths would be significant. It would be a time in which all of Israel could gather together as one and worship God. So Moses asked them to read the law, which he had just finished reading, at this time. It would be an opportunity for the new Israelites to hear the law for the first time and a great reminder to everyone else about what God commanded of them.

The rest of Deuteronomy 31 is devoted to the transfer of power from Moses to Joshua. Moses’ days were drawing to a close, so God called both him and Joshua into the tabernacle to commission Joshua for service. But when God began to speak, it was not about Joshua. Instead, he told both of them what Israel was about to do. This is a perfect example of God’s foreknowledge. He knows everything that is going to happen in our lives before it happens. That is why nothing ever surprises God. He has a plan for our lives because He knows how it will turn out in the end. So He told Moses and Joshua that Israel was about to turn their backs on Him. Those laws where God laid out the punishments and curses for disobedience would have to be enacted. In one way, God was preparing Joshua for what was to come, for he might actually see some of their disobedience. Ultimately though, God was speaking about years after Joshua when Israel would turn from God and be taken into Exile. So God gave Moses a song to write for the Israelites to remind them of who God is so that when they enter into those times of disobedience, they would be reminded of God.

Then God commissioned Joshua as the new leader of Israel. He promised that he would be the one to take the Israelites into the land, but even better than that, He promised that He would be with Joshua through it all. Joshua knew that those hard times would indeed come one day. He knew that being the leader of Israel was not a small, easy task. He also knew that God would be with him, and with Him, He had nothing to fear.

Finally, Moses finishes writing down all that he had told Israel. The Book of the Law, which we now know as the Pentateuch, or first five books of the Bible, was complete. He gave it to the Levites to put with the ark, so that they would continue to have the law in the years to come. Moses then gave them one final warning. He told them that he knew that they would become disobedient in the days ahead. Moses had seen this first hand during his time as Israel’s leader. He feared what Israel would become after his death, but he knew that God had a plan, and that God would continue to be with His children through it all.

Matt