And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. He buried him in Moab...but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Deut. 34: 5-6 (all scripture today from the NIV 84).
So, as in times past, Moses went up on the mountain. But this time he didn't come back down. Instead, ...the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 'Moses my servant is dead.' (Josh. 1:1b-2a).
I want to hang there for just a moment. I think all the folks knew what was going to happen to Moses when he climbed that mountain; his last words to them were the blessings of a father to his sons as he pronounced blessings over the tribes. But...he'd gone off by himself so many times before and always returned. It had to be hard for them, to not be able to view the body, have a funereal, mourn for Moses as they were accustomed to doing. You know...the whole closure thing.
But read verse two. As soon as God announces the death of Moses, He goes on to tell Joshua '...Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them -- to the Israelites.' (the rest of verse 2).
They didn't have time to process the finality of those words: Moses my servant is dead. Moses had been their leader for forty years. He was the one who interceded for them with God, who taught them how to worship, who gave them the Law. His leadership was pretty much the only thing that had kept the people intact and moving towards the promises God had given them.
Now he was gone. And they were on the brink of totally new territory, totally new paradigms and objectives. They didn't know what the future was going to look like, except that it was not going to be the same as they had known for virtually all their adult lives. With the exception of Caleb and Joshua, the entire nation was made up of folks under age 60. They had never known any leader other than Moses. The oldest among them might have memories of being slaves in their teens, but by and large, the only life these folks knew was the life of nomads, following the cloud of God's presence...and Moses.
All that was about to change...and Moses was not there to guide them.
I'm sure Joshua, who had been Moses' aide and closest associate, who had stayed in the tent by himself on many occasions cultivating his own relationship with God, and who was one of two true elders in the camp, had a fair amount of respect and credibility amongst the Israelites. But he was still unproven as the leader. Could he really lead them as Moses did?
So it's no wonder that, following that instruction, God pours encouragement into Joshua.
First, regarding territory
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses...from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country-- to the Great Sea on the west.
Then for Joshua himself
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.
Then instruction for the whole nation
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you...Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. -- vs. 7-9
Joshua gives the people three days to pack up and get ready to cross the Jordan, and reminds the tribes who will take their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan of their commitment to cross the river and help their brothers take the land.
And the people respond,
Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them will be put to death.
Then they say something rather remarkable. Or maybe it just hit me today that it was the people who said this. Because the first three times we see this phrase in this chapter, it comes from God. But the people tell Joshua, Only be strong and courageous! (vs. 16- 18).
Changing leadership is a shaky scenario. It's hard to make that transition. But to all appearances here, Joshua stepped in to that position with very little time to mourn his mentor. Moses had designated him as his successor in Deuteronomy 31, so there was no question of WHO would be leading...but there had to be questions of HOW he would lead. His style would be different than Moses...his objectives were different than Moses. But he had the same God leading him, with the same promises of success. God doesn't allow a change in leadership without providing for His purpose to go forward; what is amazing here is that we never see anyone refer to 'the way Moses did it'...the people were behind Joshua 100%, and no one tried to make him lead as if he were Moses.
So that is the challenge to those of us who are in the congregation, amongst the followers, when a leader changes. Can we trust God enough to let the new leader run with the vision God has given? Or will we keep trying to force the new leader into the mold of the previous one?
Can we say, with conviction, 'Be strong and courageous?'
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