Joshua 1:2 Moses 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.
We are living in, perhaps, the time of the most rapid changes in all of human history. Sometimes it is hard to know which way is up, what is right, what is wrong, where to go, what to keep the same, and what changes to allow. I suppose the nation of Israel felt this sense of insecurity in a time of rapid change when Moses, God’s servant, died.
Joshua 1:1 says, “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan.” God said, “Joshua, I want you to lead the people that Moses has led to this point.”
Now Moses was an amazing man. He was bright. The Bible tells us that even in his old age Moses was strong. He was greatly mourned by the people of Israel. He was singular; there was no one like him. Deuteronomy 34:10 tells us, “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses.” So, Moses was extremely unique, and now Moses was gone at the time he was most needed, at the very cusp of Canaan.
But, God spoke to Joshua, “Arise, go.” So, this was a new leader, a new land, and a new challenge. Everything was new and everything that had been familiar, Moses and the stability he provided, was gone. Moses was gone and now it was a new land with a new leader.
But what you read in the rest of this chapter is the things that did not change. We learn here that strength, courage, and stability come from knowing what does not change. There are a lot of things that will change. The question is not if change is good or bad. Change is inevitable. The question is when change is good and when change is bad.
Well, it is good to know that whatever else changes, God has not changed. Verse 5 says, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” This was a rationale for Joshua to be of good courage. God had not changed. Friend, whatever changes in this world, God is in immutable. God is unchanging. God’s character is as certain as tomorrow’s sunrise. In fact, it is more certain.
God’s truth has not changed. Verse 7 says, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee.” So, God’s truth, in this case God’s law in particular, had not changed. These people were to be strong and courageous and observe the truth that God had given to Moses.
God’s promises had not changed, and God’s promises do not change. Now, His promises to Israel are different than the specific promises that apply to you and me, but the point is that God is unchanging so His promises are certain. In Joshua 1:3 God said, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” God said, “Moses is dead, but My promise is not dead. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will keep My promise.”
The Israelites’ obligation to God had not changed. In verse 13 we are reminded of the word that Moses had given to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. These tribes had decided they wanted to stay on the other side of Jordan and take their possession there. Moses had given them special commands regarding that, and now that command is restated. It basically says, “Moses is dead, but your obligation has not changed. Remember.” Remembering is emphasized numerous times. “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you.”
Today, whatever may be changing in our society, our obligation to God and His truth does not change. The concept of authority has not changed. In verse 17 these tribes said to Joshua, “According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.” So, Moses was gone, but the concept of authority that God had ordained had not changed. So, when people and the terrain change, it is important to remember that we can still serve God and that the leaders that lead us should be the servants of God.
You may feel that strength, courage, and stability may be lacking in today’s world in light of all the things that are changing. When this happens, remember that strength, courage, and stability come from knowing what does not change, chief among them, God Almighty.