Daily Thoughts from Deuteronomy 31:7,8: Joshua (Y’hoshua)

33 Joshua (Y’hoshua)

Next Moshe summoned Y’hoshua and, in the sight of all Isra’el, said to him, “Be strong, be bold, for you are going with this people into the land Yahweh swore to their ancestors he would give them. You will be the one causing them to inherit it. ⁸ But Yahweh — it is he who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.”

(D’varim 31:7,8)

He felt better, as he woke to a new day, than he had felt in some days.  He even walked down the escarpment, noticed the precious plants Yahweh had planted and checked out the cistern system to make sure it was working well.

He came to his scroll with anticipation, eager to hear the words of Yahweh his Father through Moshe.

Moshe was going to die and Yeshua was going to take his place.  Yeshua’s namesake, the son of Nun, Moshe’s right hand, was summoned by Moshe and commissioned to lead these people into the land to inherit it.  Yahweh’s presence was promised to go with him.

But at the same time Yahweh told Moshe and Moshe told the people that after Moshe’s death the people would turn to idols and Yahweh would hide His face from them and let them be devoured by calamity.  They would grow fat in the land Yahweh provided and yet despise Him and break covenant.

These very words of Moshe were to be kept and read publicly every seven years during Sukkot and Moshe would compose a song that they were to memorize, all as a witness against them when their rebellious and stiff-necked character would lead them to disaster.

How must Yeshua, son of Nun, have been feeling as he heard these words?  He was commissioned to lead the people in Moshe’s place but it was a commissioning to failure, ultimately.  Though he did lead them in battle against all the Canaanites and won, eventually the people kept abandoning their faith and the time when judges led Yahweh’s people grew increasingly dark and ugly.

He saw the parallels between Yeshua, son of Nun, and himself.  He too was being commissioned to leave the yeshimon and enter the land and lead the hosts of Yisrael to the kingdom.  But he already knew that though his Father’s presence would go with him it would ultimately end in failure.  The people would reject him and he would have to suffer immeasurably.

But Yesha‘yahu had said he would see the fruit of his labor.  Somehow his Father would bring victory from defeat.  He was sure the Spirit would give him more clarity as the journey proceeded.  In the meantime he must deal with the rebellious and stiff-necked Yisrael.

It was not a very motivating passage to read today.  But he needed to hear it.  Things were not going to be easy.  This very pilgrimage in the yeshimon was evidence of that.

“Father, You have been showing me exactly what I have needed to know and You have given me victory over satan’s temptations.  I must not entertain false notions of how responsive Your people will be to the annunciation of Your kingdom.  Mankind is certainly born to trouble.  David was right that from the womb was iniquity.

He was aware that he did not participate in this inherent sin and had not ever disobeyed his Father.  He had never talked to anyone about this except John.  It was the reason John had hesitated to baptize him some thirty-three days ago, since his baptism was one for repentance from sin.  But he knew he was supposed to submit to this baptism as a part of his overall righteousness before his Father.  The Father wanted him to do it so he did.

He reflected once more on the words of his Father: “This is my beloved son in whom I am well-pleased.”

“Thank you again, Father, for Your affirmation of love.  Help me not to forget Your love when I am hurting.  Even here in this forbidding place with a body weakened through fasting, I know You love me.  I love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Keep me pure in heart because there is nothing more blessed than that.”

“You are the son of My love and I will never cease to love you.  Rest knowing that I am with you and be strong and bold.”

“Thank You, Father.”

He did rest.  And he began to ponder what might seem a foolish question.  Could he sin?  It felt very much as if he could.  When he felt fear it was tempting to create his own security rather than trust his Father.  When he was angry it felt possible to speak rashly instead of listen to the Spirit.  When that strange apparition of a nearly naked woman appeared in the cave it felt possible to move toward her in a selfish way.

But he didn’t do and hadn’t ever done any of these things.  He certainly felt tempted but he never gave in to temptation.  This made things very painful at times because the weight of the temptation was often overwhelming.  To give in and find relief from that stress would have been worth it if he didn’t know that the consequences of doing so would bring even greater pain.

No, he loved and trusted his Father too much to disobey Him.  And by His help and grace he would not do so.  Maybe it was impossible for him to sin but that did not make it any easier to obey.

He ended his day with no sure answer to the question and sleep felt more important that resolving it anyway.