Tag Archives: Prophecy

Joshua’s Parting Challenge: Choose Whom You Will Serve! (Joshua 24)

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Click on this link for translations of today’s devotion.

Scripture reading – Joshua 24

Our study of the Book of Joshua concludes with today’s Scripture reading. Beginning with the Book of Exodus, our devotions have followed Israel’s forty-year journey through the wilderness. Then, under Joshua’s leadership, we observed the record of Israel’s battles with the Canaanites who inhabited the land the LORD promised Abraham and his heirs (Genesis 12:1).

The Final Call (Joshua 24:1)

With the land conquered and divided among the tribes, Joshua gathered the children of Israel at Shechem (24:1) for a final challenge. Why Shechem? Shechem was where Abraham received the LORD’s promise that his lineage would inherit the land (Genesis 12:6-7).

The Final Challenge (Joshua 24:2-14)

In his final address and challenge to the people, Joshua rehearsed how the LORD had chosen Abraham (24:2-4), delivered Israel out of Egypt (24:5-7), and guided them through the wilderness (24:7-10). Next, he reminded the congregation that God had given them the land as He promised (24:11-13). Finally, he challenged them to revere and serve the LORD (24:14-28).

The Final Charge (Joshua 24:15)

Showing his passion for serving the LORD had not diminished in his old age, Joshua exhorted the nation: “If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (24:15).

The Covenant Renewed (Joshua 24:16-25)

With one voice, Israel renewed its covenant with the LORD and said, “We will serve the LORD… The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.” (24:21, 24).

The Covenant Memorialized (Joshua 24:26-27) 

Joshua then memorialized the nation’s covenant with the LORD “and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak [and said to the people]…Behold, this stone shall be a witness [a memorial; a testament] unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God” (24:26-27).

The Conclusion (Joshua 24:28-33)

Three burials conclude our study of the Book of Joshua. First, having inscribed the people’s vow in stone, they then departed. Then, “after these things…Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in Mount Ephraim” (24:29-30). So Joshua, the last of his generation to depart Egypt, was dead.

A second burial fulfilled Joseph’s dying request (Genesis 50:25), and his bones were buried on the land purchased by his father Jacob (24:32).  Lastly, Eleazar, the high priest, the son of Aaron, died and was buried (24:33).

Closing thoughts:

Joshua’s challenge to Israel and his confession should stir our hearts to follow his example (24:15). As it was with Joshua, so it is with every believer. We must individually decide whether or not we will serve the LORD with our whole heart (24:14-24).

Choose this day whom you will serve!

Questions to ponder:

  • Why did Joshua gather “all the tribes of Israel” and rehearse the nation’s history and the providences of God? (Joshua 24:1-13)
  • After reflecting on all the LORD had done for Israel, how did Joshua challenge the people? (Joshua 24:14-15)
  • What did Joshua challenge the people to do if they sincerely desired to worship and serve the LORD? (Joshua 24:22-23)
  • How did Joshua memorialize Israel’s vow to the LORD? (Joshua 24:25-27)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Old Joshua and Israel’s Unfinished Business (Joshua 12; Joshua 13)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 12-13

Joshua 12 – For the Record: A List of Kings and City States Conquered by Israel

Joshua 12 records the kings of Canaan conquered by Israel and the lands God promised His people as their inheritance.

The Land on the East Side of the Jordan River (12:1-6)

Joshua 12:1 describes the land Moses promised to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. Those two and one-half tribes were to occupy lands that had been ruled by Sihon, king of the Amorites (12:2-3), and Og, the king of Bashan (12:4-5). Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had requested, and Moses agreed to give them the lands east of the Jordan (12:6).

The Kings Conquered under Joshua’s Leadership (12:7-24).

The boundaries of the Promised Land on the west side of the Jordan were defined and described (12:7-8). Those lands had been inhabited by “the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites” (12:8), and all who were descendants of Canaan, the cursed son of Ham, the son of Noah (Genesis 10:15-18; 15:21; Deuteronomy 7:11). Thirty-one kings were defeated, and are listed in the order they were conquered (12:9-24).

Joshua 13 – Dividing the Land

The division of the lands on the west side of the Jordan River was recorded, beginning with Joshua 13 and extending to Joshua 24.

Joshua 13 began with a striking dialog between the LORD and Joshua. Unlike Moses, who had lived one hundred and twenty years and had not grown weak or frail in his old age (Deuteronomy 34:7), Joshua’s physical condition was described as “old and stricken in years” (13:1a). The LORD came to Joshua and stated the obvious: “Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed” (13:1).

Joshua’s age was not disclosed, and he did not live to see Israel fully conquer and possess the land (13:1b-2). However, there was still much land to be settled, and those lands were identified, including the nations that occupied them (13:2-5). Therefore, before his death, Joshua needed to divide the lands west of Jordan among the nine and one-half tribes and command them to drive the inhabitants out of the lands God had promised them for an inheritance (13:7-13).

Two times we are reminded that the tribe of Levi would not receive land as their inheritance. Instead, the Levites had been chosen and sanctified by the LORD to serve Him. Their inheritance would be a portion of the offerings brought by the people to the Tabernacle (13:14, 33; Numbers 18:20; Deuteronomy 19:9; 18;2).

Closing thoughts:

The balance of Joshua 13 recorded the land east of the Jordan that was assigned to the tribes of Reuben (13:15-23), Gad (13:24-28), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (13:29-33). Our study of the divisions of the land west of the Jordan River will continue tomorrow with the remarkable testimony of Caleb (Joshua 14).

Questions to consider:

1) What tribes were assigned land on the east side of the Jordan River? (12:6; 13:8)

2) What nations did Israel fail to drive out of the land? (13:13)

3) What tribe did not receive land for an inheritance? (13:14, 33)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Crossing the Jordan: An Obstacle or An Opportunity? (Joshua 4; Joshua 5)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 4-5

With the promises of the LORD and the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant, “the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan” (3:14). When the priests bearing the Ark stepped into the waters, they receded, and “and rose up upon an heap… and the people passed over right against Jericho” (3:16).

Joshua 4

A Lasting Memorial (Joshua 4:1-9)

What a glorious event in Israel’s history, and one that the LORD commanded Joshua to honor in a physical memorial of twelve stones (4:1-8). Joshua commanded twelve men, each representing his tribe, to pass before the Ark and “take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder” (4:5). The weight and size of the stones required the men to carry them upon their shoulder. So they went before the Ark and brought them to Gilgal (4:8, 19-20), where Israel encamped after crossing the dry riverbed into Canaan.

Then, Joshua placed a second memorial of twelve stones, representing the Twelve Tribes of Israel, “in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood” (4:9).

A Miracle: Crossing Jordan (Joshua 4:10-14)

All the people passed over, including forty thousand men of war from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and “half the tribe of Manasseh” (4:13). That day, the LORD fulfilled His promise, for He had “magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life” (4:14).

Closing Waters and a Monument of Stones (Joshua 4:15-24)

The LORD then instructed Joshua, “Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan” (4:16).” Then the priests came “up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before” (4:18).

That evening, the people encamped at the plain of Gilgal, east of Jericho. There, Joshua took the twelve stones the men had removed from the Jordan and built a memorial, a lasting testimony to future generations. So, when their children should ask, “What mean these stones” (4:21), their parents were to instruct them: “Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over” (4:22-23).

Joshua 5 – A New Land and a Renewed Covenant

Demoralized Adversaries (Joshua 5:1)

The nations in Canaan had not assaulted Israel; however, their spies had witnessed the power and presence of the LORD amid His people. “All the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel” (5:1).

Renewing the Covenant of Circumcision (Joshua 5:2-9)

Circumcision had not been observed in Israel during the wilderness wanderings; however, in the new land, the LORD commanded Joshua to circumcise the men of Israel (5:2-3).

Now circumcision served as a physical reminder of Israel’s blood covenant with the LORD (Exodus 19:5-6) and a testimony that the LORD had “rolled away the reproach of Egypt” (5:9). What was “the reproach of Egypt?” I believe it was the reproof of the faithless generation that refused to believe the LORD and had turned back from the land He had promised them for an inheritance (5:6). The name of the place of circumcision would be Gilgal, meaning “rolled away” (5:9).

Celebrating the Passover (Joshua 5:10-12)

Remembering His grace, and goodness, Israel reaffirmed the LORD’s presence and observed the Passover (5:10) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (5:11). The next day, the provision of manna ceased, and “they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year” (5:12).

A Heavenly Vision: A Pre-Incarnate Appearance of Christ (Joshua 5:13-15)

When Joshua came near the city of Jericho, he looked up, and “behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand” (5:13). Joshua bravely went to the man and asked, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” (5:13)

Then the man introduced himself, saying, “Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come” (5:14; Hebrews 2:10). Joshua, sensing he was in the presence, not of a man, but the LORD Himself, “fell on his face to the earth, and did worship…and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?” (5:14)

The LORD, “captain of the host,” and ready for battle, “said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so” (5:15).

Closing thoughts:

What made the ground holy? It was the presence of the LORD.

When Moses drew aside to see the flaming bush in the wilderness, he removed his shoes, for he understood he was in the presence of the LORD (Exodus 3:5). Now Joshua did the same (5:15). With his shoes removed, Joshua bowed with his face bowed to the earth, and was ready to receive his marching orders for the siege of Jericho (Joshua 6).

Questions to consider:

1) Why did the LORD require Joshua to choose twelve men to take stones from the Jordan? (Joshua 4:2-5)

2) What were the stones to represent? (Joshua 4:6-7)

3) How did Israel crossing Jordan affect their attitude toward Joshua? (Joshua 4:14)

4) How did Israel crossing Jordan affect their adversaries? (Joshua 5:1)

5) What rite did Joshua command Israel’s men to observe after they crossed the Jordan? (Joshua 5:3)

6) Why did the LORD cause the daily manna to cease in Canaan? (Joshua 5:12)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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“Bold Faith; Wet Feet” (Joshua 2; Joshua 3)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 2-3

Joshua 2 – Two Spies and a Harlot

Spies Sent to Scout Jericho (Joshua 2:1)

With the affirmation and enlistment of the tribes that would settle on the land east of the Jordan (Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 1:12-18), Joshua sent two spies to survey the city of Jericho (2:1).

In the Scriptures, the city of Jericho, like Egypt, served as a picture or type of the world. Jericho was a major city in Canaan and would have been a place of commerce, prosperity, idolatry, and wickedness. The walled city was also an obstacle to Israel invading the land, and Joshua knew it had to be destroyed.

Spies Concealed by a Harlot Named Rahab (Joshua 2:2-7)

Arriving in Jericho, the spies providentially entered an inn on the city’s walls identified as “an harlot’s house, named Rahab” (2:1b). Why the house of a harlot? Many reasons might be suggested; however, the Scriptures reveal the most obvious. The LORD knew Rahab’s heart had been moved to faith by all she had heard about Israel and that nation’s God.

Rahab risked her life when she hid the spies and then lied when the king’s men came seeking them (2:2-6). Rahab professed her faith in the LORD when she appealed to the spies that she and her family be spared the destruction of Jericho she believed was certain.

Rahab’s Confession and Faith (Joshua 2:8-13)

Rahab expressed her faith and “said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land…10For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed (Numbers 21:21-24, 33-35). 11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt” (1:9-11).

Because she believed the God of Israel was the “God in heaven above, and in earth beneath (2:11), Rahab appealed to the spies to give her a token, a sign, that her family would be spared God’s judgment (2:12-13).

The Spies’ Covenant with Rahab and Their Flight from Jericho (Joshua 2:14-24)

The spies gave Rahab a sign, a token of her faith, and instructed her, “Bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee” (2:18). Returning to Israel’s’ encampment, the spies assured Joshua, “Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us” (2:24).

Joshua 3 – Stepping Out by Faith and Into the Jordan

Joshua’s Order to Mobilize and Follow the Ark (Joshua 3:1-4)

Wasting no time to muster the people to trust the LORD (3:1), Joshua commanded the nation to relocate to the shores of the Jordan, whose waters they would cross to enter the Promised Land (3:2). For three days, nearly two million souls stood looking at the flood waters of the Jordan and wondered, “What now?”

Joshua then commanded the priest to carry the “Ark of the Covenant of the LORD” before the people. He warned them to stay far from the Ark, for it represented the LORD’s throne and presence in the midst of Israel (3:3-4).

The Preparation of Sanctification (Joshua 3:5)

One senses the joy and anticipation as Joshua tells the people, “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (3:5). The details of the sanctification are not named. The minimum would have been bathing and washing their clothes. I also believe there would also have been the preparation of their heart to step out in faith and trust the LORD.

The Ark of the Covenant Led the Way (Joshua 3:6-8)

For forty years, the people had heard how the LORD had opened the Red Sea for Israel to pass through on dry ground. Once again, the nation watched to see what God would do. The LORD promised to magnify Joshua’s name as He had with Moses. “The Lord said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee. 8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan” (3:7-8).

Crossing Jordan (Joshua 3:9-17)

Joshua summoned Israel and assured the people “that the living God is among you” (3:10a) and that He will drive the heathen nations from the land (3:10). Then the priests, bearing the “Ark of the Covenant of the LORD,” stepped into the flood waters, and as they did, the waters divided “and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan” (3:16-17).

Closing thoughts:

Imagine the sight of flood waters dividing and making way for Israel to pass over on dry land. The people had heard how God had divided the waters of the Red Sea, and now they witnessed Him doing the same under Joshua’s leadership. The priests carrying the “Ark of the Covenant” stood still as Israel passed through the dry bed of the Jordan, confident the LORD who had parted the waters was with them.

The Ark symbolized God’s presence and power, and He was with them in the midst as they faced the challenges of Canaan.

Questions to consider:

1) How had Rahab, a harlot, come to know the God of Israel? (Joshua 2:10)

2) What did Rahab believe about God? (Joshua 2:11)

3) What was the symbol or token of Rahab’s covenant with the spies? (Joshua 2:18)

4) Why did God honor Joshua before Israel? (Joshua 3:7)

5) What happened when the priests bearing the Ark stepped into the waters? (Joshua 3:15-17)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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“The Death of a Leader is Not an End, but a New Beginning” (Joshua 1)

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Scripture reading – Joshua 1

The death of the LORD’s servants never surprises Him, nor is a leader indispensable.

After leading Israel for forty years, Moses was dead, “according to the word [and the will] of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 34:5). For thirty days, the nation mourned the death of their beloved leader (34:8). Certainly, Joshua felt the loss of his mentor, but when the days of mourning were complete, the LORD came to him and said, “2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel” (Joshua 1:1-2).

I am sure some in Israel were dismayed. Not only was Moses dead, but the nation was facing its most significant test of faith. The task before them was one the previous generation had failed. They were at the threshold of the land the LORD had promised their forefathers.

Who was Joshua? (Joshua 1:1)

With modest fanfare, Joshua is introduced simply as “the son of Nun, Moses’ minister” (1:1). He had served Moses as his servant and attendant, shadowing that great leader for forty years.

When Moses received the Ten Commandments, Joshua was there (Exodus 24:13). He was one of the twelve Moses sent to survey the Promised Land and the people that lived therein. He was at Moses’ side when he faced strife and insurrection within Israel. When Israel went to war, Joshua had led the nation into battle.

Joshua was a proven leader, but most importantly, he was the man the LORD had chosen as Moses’ successor. In the sight of all Israel, Moses had confirmed and charged him (Deuteronomy 31:7-8), and “the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:9).

The Challenge: Stop Looking Back and Go Over Jordan. (Joshua 1:2)

The LORD stated two initial commands to Joshua. The first, “Stop Looking Back,” for “Moses my servant is dead” (34:2a). Moses was a man without equal (Deuteronomy 34:10-12); however, his ministry was ended.

The second command was, “Go Over this Jordan” (1:2b). The time for mourning had ended, and Israel needed to focus on the LORD. The task before them was to cross the Jordan River and take the land God had promised Israel as their inheritance (1:2c).

Three Keys to Crossing the Jordan River (Joshua 1:1-9)

I don’t know what challenges you might face, but you should find God’s instructions to Joshua to be a model for overcoming obstacles and serving the LORD. First, taking upon himself the mantle of leadership, the LORD challenged Joshua to have a Listening Ear, for we read, “The LORD spake unto Joshua” (1:1).

Not only did Joshua need to listen to the LORD, but he also needed Faith. Joshua needed to claim and believe all God promised (Joshua 1:3-5). After all, “Jordan was in flood” stage (Joshua 3:15). How would a nation of two million souls cross a river without bridges or ferries?

Thirdly, Joshua needed to Obey God’s Commands (1:6-8). So the Lord urged him, saying, “6Be strong and of a good courage… [and] observe to do according to all the law…turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night” (1:6-8a).

Preparing for Battle (Joshua 1:10-18)

With the LORD’s promise to be with him (1:9), Joshua “commanded the officers of the people” (1:10) to prepare to cross the Jordan “within three days” (1:11). He gave orders for the tribes inhabiting the lands on the east side of Jordan (1:11-12)  to send their best warriors, their “mighty men of valour” (1:14), to fight beside the other tribes.

The people encouraged Joshua in four ways as he assumed the leadership mantle. (Joshua 1:12-18)

They had hearts of submission and were wholehearted in their duty (1:16). They vowed loyalty. They said, “As we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee” (1:17a). They affirmed Joshua and declared, “Only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses” (1:17b).

Lastly, they assured Joshua they would be intolerant of insubordination in their ranks. They said, “Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage” (1:18).

Closing thoughts:

Leaders and ministries would be spared much heartache if people were wholehearted in their duty, loyal, affirming, and intolerant of insubordination. Disloyalty was a severe offense in Israel in Joshua’s day, as it is today.

Questions to consider:

1) What moved Joshua to prepare Israel for crossing the Jordan? (Joshua 1:1)

2) What did the LORD promise Joshua? (Joshua 1:5)

3) What did God promise was the key to success? (Joshua 1:8)

4) What did the tribes of Israel promise Joshua? (Joshua 1:17)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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Moses’ Death, Obituary, and Memorial (Deuteronomy 34; Psalm 91)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 34; Psalm 91

Today’s devotion will focus on the final chapter of Deuteronomy and conclude our study of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament).

Deuteronomy 34

Moses’ View of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1-4)

The psalmist writes in Psalm 116, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (116:15), and indeed, the death of Moses would be numbered among the most splendid of believers. Having finished his parting blessing to the congregation of Israel, Moses “went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo” (34:1a). From Pisgah, one of the peaks of Mount Nebo, “the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan” (34:1). Gilead encompassed the land on the east side of Jordan, which Moses had promised the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, would be their inheritance (the “Dan” that is mentioned is not the Dan that was located on the west side of the Jordan River).

Standing on the peak of Pisgah, Moses beheld all the land the LORD had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as their inheritance (34:2-4). There was the land of Naphtali in the north, and “the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh” in the central region of Canaan (34:2a). To the west, he could see “all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea [the Mediterranean Sea],” and to the south, the Jordan Valley, that reached “the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar” (34:3). This region laid near to Sodom and Gomorrah.

How might Moses have scanned so grand a vista from Mount Nebo? The LORD revealed that miracle in these words: “I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes” (34:4). Additionally, the LORD had preserved Moses’ eyesight, for though he was one hundred and twenty years old, “his eye was not dim” (34:7).

Moses’ Death and Burial (Deuteronomy 34:5-7)

“Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the Land of Moab.” (34:5)

The preceding devotional described Moses as “the man of God” (33:1). In this final devotional, this giant of the faith is lovingly remembered as “the servant of the LORD” (34:5). Moses died, but not because he was old, frail, or suffering failing health. Instead, he died “in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord” (34:5). He was “an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” (34:7). Moses was dead because it was “according to the word [and the will] of the LORD” (34:5).

The LORD had permitted Moses to see the land. Still, he was not allowed to “go over thither” (34:4). With humility and meekness, “the servant of the LORD” accepted the consequences of his failure to obey the LORD at Meribah-Kadesh (32:51-52; Numbers 20). He died, and the LORD “buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day” (34:6).

Moses’ Successor (Deuteronomy 34:8-9)

Israel mourned the death of Moses “in the plains of Moab thirty days” (34:8). When the days of mourning were past, Joshua, “full of the spirit of wisdom” (34:9), became the man whom “the children of Israel hearkened” (34:9).

Moses’ Character (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)

Now, there was no man like Moses, “whom the LORD knew face to face” (34:10-12). But Joshua did not need to be like his predecessor. He was the man for the hour and the one God had chosen to lead Israel and claim the Promised Land.

Psalm 91

Ancient scholars attribute Psalm 91 to Moses, and I believe there is much about the psalm that would arguably be the work of Moses; for his fellowship with the LORD was intimate, and he was one “whom the LORD knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10). Simple, beautiful, and inspiring; rather than give commentary, I encourage you to read Psalm 91 and meditate on its promises and truths.

Questions to consider:

1) From what mountain did Moses see the land God had promised Israel for an inheritance? (Deuteronomy 34:1)

2) With whom had the LORD established His covenant with Israel? (Deuteronomy 34:4)

3) Who buried Moses, and where was he buried? (Deuteronomy 34:6)

4) How long did Israel mourn Moses’ death? (Deuteronomy 34:8)

5) How intimate was the LORD’s relationship with Moses? (Deuteronomy 34:10)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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The End is the Beginning: Getting Ready to Depart (Deuteronomy 31; Deuteronomy 32)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 31-32

Deuteronomy 31

As we near the end of our study of the Book of Deuteronomy, I am reminded of a verse from the song Moses: “So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Keep in mind, as you read Deuteronomy 31-32, the balance of Moses’ life can be numbered in days, if not hours. This great leader, arguably one of the greatest of all time, was coming to the end of his earthly sojourn (31:2).

Moses’ Exhortation to Israel and Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

Mindful of his mortality, Moses reminded the nation he was “an hundred and twenty years old,” and the LORD had said, “Thou shalt not go over this Jordan (31:1-2). With the urgency of a man who knows he will soon be passing, Moses exhorted the people: “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” (31:6). Then, “in the sight of all Israel,” Moses affirmed Joshua as the leader whom the LORD had chosen to lead the nation into the Promised Land (31:7-8).

Moses’ Challenge to Israel’s Spiritual Leaders (Deuteronomy 31:9-11)

Turning from Joshua, Moses challenged the spiritual leaders of the nation to be the custodians and teachers of the Law and keep the Law and Commandments before the people (31:9). Every seventh year, the priests were to gather the people together, and “read [the] law before all Israel in their hearing” (31:10-11).

God’s Confirmation of Joshua’s Succession (Deuteronomy 31:12-15)

The LORD then commanded Moses, saying, “Thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge” (31:14). The LORD then descended “in a pillar of a cloud…[and] stood over the door of the tabernacle” (31:15).

God’s Revelation of Israel’s Disobedience (Deuteronomy 31:16-18)

With Moses and Joshua standing at the door of the Tabernacle, the LORD revealed that after Israel conquered the Canaanites and took possession of the land, the people would “go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land” (31:16). They would break their covenant with Him (31:16b). and depart from the Law and Commandments. God then warned that He would hide His face and abandon them to the consequences of their idolatry (31:17-18).

A Song of Remembrance and Instruction (Deuteronomy 31:19-21; Deuteronomy 32)

To memorialize His prophecy against Israel, the LORD commanded Moses to write a song, “and teach it, the children of Israel…that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel (31:19). The song was to serve as a testimony of God’s faithfulness, and how He had fulfilled the promises He had made to their forefathers (31:20-21). And so, Moses wrote the song “and taught it [to] the children of Israel” (31:22).

A Public Charge to Joshua and Israel’s Leaders (Deuteronomy 31:22-30)

Deuteronomy 31 concluded with Moses giving a final charge to Joshua in preparing him to assume the leadership of the nation (31:23).  Moses then commanded the Levites to take the record of the Law he had written with his hand (31:24) and “put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD” (31:26). He then stated, what the LORD had revealed to him concerning the hearts of the people, saying, “I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death?” (31:27).

Deuteronomy 32 – The Song of Moses and His Imminent Death

Given the length of Deuteronomy 32, a brief oversight of Moses’ song of praise, worship, and forewarning will need to suffice. First, you will notice the preface of Moses’ song in the first two verses and a declaration of its purpose (32:1-2). Moses then wrote, “I will publish the name of the Lord: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God” (32:3). He then declared that Israel’s God was “the Rock [strong and stable], His work is perfect [complete; lacking nothing]: For all His ways are judgment [He is Just]: A God of truth [trustworthy] and without iniquity [sinless], Just [Righteous; Innocent] and right [straight; upright] is He” (32:4).

After confessing the sinful character of the people, Moses memorialized the LORD’s compassionate care as a testimony of His grace, love, and mercies (32:7-18). He also recorded the tragic prophecy of the nation’s wickedness and God’s punishment that would follow (32:19-33). Yet, though the LORD would use other nations to judge His people, He promised He would not altogether forsake Israel (32:34-43).

After rehearsing the song he had written “in the ears of the people” (32:44), Moses challenged them: “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law” (32:46).

Closing thoughts:

When Moses finished speaking, the LORD commanded him, “49Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo…and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: 50And die in the mount whither thou goest up” (32:49-50a). Moses evidenced no protest at the LORD’s command and was reminded he would not enter the land (32:51).

From Mount Nebo, Moses looked out on the vastness of the land the LORD had promised Israel (32:52). His sin prevented him from leading the people into the land; however, the LORD had chosen Joshua, and the mantle of leadership now rested on him.

Questions to consider:

1) What assurance did the LORD give Israel that they should be “strong and of a good courage?” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

2) What tribe was responsible for carrying the Ark of the Covenant into the new land? (Deuteronomy 31:9)

3) What solemn event was Israel to observe every seventh year? (Deuteronomy 31:10-11)

4) What did Moses command the Levites to do with the book of the law he had written? (Deuteronomy 31:24-26)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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A Covenant and a Choice of Two Paths (Deuteronomy 29; Deuteronomy 30)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 29-30

Deuteronomy 29 – Renewing the Covenant

Moses declared and recorded God’s Covenant with Israel in Deuteronomy 5 through Deuteronomy 28. He then challenged the people to reaffirm the covenant they had entered into at Mt Horeb forty years prior (Exodus 24). In doing so, the nation would acknowledge its obligation to obey the LORD’s Laws and Commandments (Deuteronomy 29-30).

The Past (Deuteronomy 29:1-9)

Moses then rehearsed with the people all the LORD had done for them in Egypt. He acknowledged how they had been blind to the ways of the LORD (29:4) and reminded them how God had lovingly sustained and preserved them for forty years in the wilderness (29:5-6). Then, in the place they were that day, the LORD had given them victory over their adversaries and their land on the east side of the Jordan as an inheritance for the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and “the half tribe of Manasseh” (29:7-8).

A Summons to Obey (Deuteronomy 29:10-15)

Reminding the people they were standing “before the LORD,” Moses challenged every member of the nation (its captains, elders, officers, women, children, and servants) to “enter into the covenant with the LORD” (29:10-12). Moses promised the LORD would exalt Israel as a nation and be their God as He was with their forefathers (29:13). The promises of the LORD would not only apply to their generation but to their children and children’s children (29:14-15).

An Admonition (Deuteronomy 29:16-29)

Nevertheless, should a “man, or woman, or family, or tribe” turn from the LORD and worship idols, they would bear the sorrow and bitterness of God’s judgment (29:18). Such might be deluded and believe they might find peace walking after their imaginations. Still, Moses warned, “The Lord will not spare him…and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven” (29:20).

If Israel tolerated wickedness in its midst, Moses warned that the judgment of the LORD would leave the land like the “overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah” (29:23). He prophesied the nations would look upon the desolation of Israel and ask, “Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?” (29:24). Then, men would answer, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt” (29:25).

Deuteronomy 30 – A Promise of Grace and Mercy

An Opportunity of Restoration (Deuteronomy 30:1-10)

Though Israel would reject the LORD and disobey His Law and Commandments, Moses promised He would remember His people and not forget His covenant promises (30:1). While the LORD promised to punish Israel for her disobedience, He also promised to be gracious, merciful, and forgiving if the people would repent of their sins and turn back to Him (30:1-7). Furthermore, should the people repent, God promised to renew His covenant with them and “make [them] plenteous in every work of thine hand…for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers” (30:9).

Ignorance was Not an Excuse (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

The will and commandments of the LORD were not mysterious or hidden from Israel (30:11-13). Instead, God’s purpose was established, and His will was revealed by His “Word” (30:14).

Two Paths to Choose: Death or Life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

Deuteronomy 30 concluded with a strong challenge to Israel to know the Word of the LORD was sure. While the path of obedience leads to “life and good,” the way of disobedience leads to “death and evil” (30:15). Choose to keep the LORD’s covenant, and He will bless you. However, disobey God’s Law and Commandments, and you invite His judgment (30:17-18).

So then, summoning heaven and earth to be his witness, Moses warned: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (30:19).

Closing thoughts:

I am reminded that every soul faces the spiritual dilemma of choosing between two paths in life. Faith and obedience are the paths of blessing and eternal life. The way of sin inevitably ends in death and hell. As the shepherd of Israel, Moses longed for the people to love and obey the LORD. After all, that path promised the quality and quantity of life that God alone could provide (Deuteronomy 30:20).

What path have you taken? Are you on the path of obedience and life or disobedience and death?

Questions to consider:

1) Why did Israel need to remember “all that the LORD did” in Egypt and the wilderness? (Deuteronomy 29:2-6)

2) What was the key to Israel’s prosperity in the new land? (Deuteronomy 29:9)

3) What was the condition for Israel to be blessed and fruitful? (Deuteronomy 30:8-10)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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The Support of Ministers and the Character of Unfaithful Ministers (Deuteronomy 18)

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Scripture reading – Deuteronomy 18

Moses’ speech to the congregation continued in Deuteronomy 18, focusing on five concerns.

Provision for Those Who Minister (18:1-5)

Unlike other tribes, the Tribe of Levi had no physical inheritance in Canaan (18:1-2; Numbers 18:20, 23-24). Instead, the birthright of the Levites was a portion of the “offerings of the LORD made by fire” (18:1). The other tribes of Israel toiled in their fields, cared for their flocks and herds, and were enriched by the spoils of war. However, that was not the case with the Levitical tribe. It was the duty of the Levites to labor for the LORD as ministers and representatives of His people.

Therefore, the tribes of Israel were under obligation to not begrudge the Levites their portion of the offerings given to the LORD. It was “the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice” (18:3). Those who labored in ministry were to receive “the first-fruit” (18:4), for the Levite was “chosen…to stand to minister in the name of the Lord” (18:5).

Giving Ministers Their Due (18:6-8)

While the Twelve Tribes were assigned their portion of lands in Canaan, the Levites were allocated forty-eight towns and villages (Numbers 35:1-8; Joshua 21). Though a Levite owned his home and land for the care of his household, his zeal and calling was to minister for the LORD. Thus, a rotation of Levites ministered at the sanctuary and caused them to journey from their homes to the Tabernacle (18:6).

So, what became of a Levite’s home and land when he sojourned to minister at the Tabernacle? First, he was allowed “the sale [literally the leasing] of his patrimony [birthright, meaning his house and land]” (18:8). While the Levites would “have like portions to eat” of the offerings brought by the people to the sanctuary, he was also allowed revenue from leasing his properties to others in his absence.

All Occult Practices Were Condemned (18:9-14)

Idolatry, and practices of the occult observed by the Canaanites, were admonished and forbidden. God’s people were “not to learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (18:9). Moses warned there would be no tolerance of wicked practices, and named among them were human sacrifices (18:10a), divination (soothsaying), fortune telling (“observer of times”), witchcraft (sorcery), casting spells (“charmer”), medium (consulting with spirits), wizardry, and necromancy (seeking to contact the dead, 18:10-11).

Tragically, there is a growing tolerance and embrace of those evil practices in the 21st century. The abortion of the unborn is touted as a right, while witchcraft, black magic, and wizardry have a growing following. Of course, this comes as no surprise, for the Book of Revelation warned that the occult would increase in the last days (Revelation 9:20-21; 18:2), and all who practice such will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8; 22:14-15).

The Promise of a Coming Prophet (18:15-19)

Israel did not need soothsayers or fortune tellers, for the LORD had promised to put His Word in the mouth of His Prophet. So, Moses prophesied of the coming of a Prophet, One whom the “Lord thy God [would] raise up” (18:15). This Prophet was to be of Hebrew stock, for He would come “from the midst of thee (Israel), of thy brethren” (18:15).

Who was this Prophet (18:15-19)?

Some supposed it was Elijah. Others thought John the Baptist was the Prophet to come. The Scriptures, however, declare that the long-awaited Prophet was Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist said of Christ, “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose” (John 1:27). After Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand, some said of Him, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). We read again in John 7:40, “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet” (7:40).

Prophets: True and False (18:20-22)

It was a serious matter when a man proposed to speak as the LORD’s prophet. Should a man prophesy, apart from the revelation of the LORD, we read, “that prophet shall die” (18:20). Some asked, “How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?” (18:21)

The answer: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him” (18:22).

The real test for a prophet was: Did every word of his prophecy come to pass? Because the word of a false prophet would fail, Israel had no reason to fear such a prophet (18:22).

Closing thoughts:

Believers are responsible for discerning whether or not the things taught are from the LORD. So many today propose teaching the Scriptures, but how many believers and ministries take the time and obligation to examine what is spoken?

We should be wary of any who propose a new “word of prophecy” or claim to have received a new revelation. Also, we dare not patronize a man or support a ministry that fails to speak and teach the whole counsel of God. Be forewarned: “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18–19).

Believers should demand absolute fidelity to the Scriptures, for the LORD speaks to us through the teaching and preaching of His Word.

Questions to consider:

1) How did Israel support the priests and Levites? (18:3-5)

2) What practices did the LORD forbid in the new land? (18:9-12)

3) What were the obligations of a prophet? (18:20)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

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God’s Promise: “Do Right, and I will bless you!” (Deuteronomy 8; Deuteronomy 9)

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Scripture Reading – Deuteronomy 8-9

Deuteronomy 8 – A Call to Obedience

Moses’ second challenge to Israel continued in Deuteronomy 8. Again, it was a call to obedience: “All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers” (8:1). In other words, “Do Right, and I will bless you!”

A Memorial to God’s Providences (Deuteronomy 8:2)

As though the promises of God’s grace and faithfulness were not enough, Moses began reciting all the LORD had done for the nation in the wilderness (8:2-5). Even the adversities of “forty years in the wilderness” had a righteous purpose, for the LORD had used the trials to “humble…to prove, [and] to know what was in [Israel’s] heart” (8:2). Knowing what was in the hearts of His people, the LORD had employed trials and testing to lay bare what manner of people they were.

What had the trials proved? (Deuteronomy 8:3-5)

The LORD’s loving care of His people! When they were hungry, He “fed them with manna” (8:3) and made Israel “know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” (8:3; Matthew 4:4).

For forty years, the LORD preserved Israel. Even their clothes “waxed not old,” and their health did not fail them. Even their feet did not “swell, these forty years” (8:4). Yet, the LORD had chastened and corrected Israel, like “a man chasteneth his son” (8:5).

The Promise of a Good Land (Deuteronomy 8:6-9)

The LORD was bringing Israel into a fertile land with water and springs (8:7). The land was all He had promised. It gave forth an abundance of grains and fruit (8:8). There was also a wealth of iron ore and copper in the land (referred to as “brass,” 8:9).

Warning: The Lure and Temptation of Prosperity (Deuteronomy 8:10-20)

Moses then warned that prosperity could tempt the people’s hearts to be lifted in pride, and they might forget the LORD and His covenant (8:10-19). Furthermore, Moses admonished, should the nation forget the LORD and boast, “My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth” (8:17), Israel would go the way of other nations and “surely perish” (8:19-20).

Deuteronomy 9 – Israel’s Unworthiness in Light of God’s Promises 

A Promise of Victory (Deuteronomy 9:1-3)

Lest the hearts of the people be lifted with pride, Moses reminded the people that the nations that occupied the land were “greater and mightier” than they were (9:1). He described the Canaanites as “a people great and tall…[for others said], Who can stand before the children of Anak!” (9:1-2).

An Assurance of God’s Unmerited Favor (Deuteronomy 9:4-6)

Therefore, Israel had no cause for pride or self-reliance. The LORD had determined to give them the land, not because they were righteous or merited God’s favor (because they were “a stiffnecked [hard, stubborn] people,” 9:6).

Warning: Lest they be proud, Moses Reminded Israel of the Nation’s Faults and Failures (Deuteronomy9:7-24)

They had rebelled and provoked God to anger when Moses went up onto the mount to receive the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 9:8-14; Exodus 31:18-32:6). When the LORD threatened to destroy the nation, Moses interceded for the people (9:15-19). Even Aaron, the brother of Moses, who became the first high priest, was mercifully spared, though “the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and [Moses] prayed for Aaron” (9:20).

After citing other examples of Israel’s past sins and rebellion (9:22-24; Exodus 17:1; Numbers 11:4), Moses returned to the uprising at Sinai. He recalled how he had appealed to the LORD to spare Israel for His testimony’s sake before the Egyptians and other nations (9:25-29).

Closing thoughts: What spiritual lesson might we take from Moses memorializing Israel’s sins and unworthiness?

There are many lessons and applications, but the most prominent is a lesson in God’s GRACE. Israel’s failures serve as a reminder of our unworthiness. None of us are worthy or merit God’s favor (Titus 3:5). Apart from Christ, sinners are lost and without hope of forgiveness and salvation. Israel was saved as a nation; in the same way, any sinner comes to be saved and forgiven of sin–GRACE.

Ephesians 2:8–9 – 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Questions to consider:

1) To what end had the LORD allowed Israel to suffer trials, hunger, and thirst in the wilderness? (Deuteronomy 8:2-3)

2) What are the dangers of prosperity? (Deuteronomy 9:12-14)

3) How strong were the enemies Israel would face in the Promised Land? (Deuteronomy 9:1-2)

4) How did Moses respond when he saw the golden calf Aaron had made for the people? (Deuteronomy 9:17-21)

Copyright © 2023 – Travis D. Smith

* You can subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals and have them sent directly to your email address. Please enter your email address in the box to the right (if using a computer) or at the bottom (if using a cell phone). You may also email your request to HeartofAShepherdInc@gmail.com

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