He Will Lead the Way (Daily Refresh, 9-14-26)

Moses led the people of Israel for forty years. He led them out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, delivered the Ten Commandments from his time with God on Mount Sinai, and walked with them through the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan. 

But as he neared the end of his life, God showed Moses that it was time to hand off leadership to another. In a final address to the people of Israel, he shares these final words with his successor, Joshua:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

This is the last record we have of Moses talking to Joshua. Notice he didn’t say, “Good luck, these people are exhausting,” or, “Here’s a situation going on, I would handle it this way.” Moses wasn’t telling Joshua about how to do something, but instead, how to see everything.

Moses drew Joshua’s attention to the most important part of the story: God. Moses had been a crucial leader, but it was only because of God that Israel could move forward. It was only because of God that they made it this far. And because God is the author of the story, His provision would continue after Moses is gone. 

Because God was with Israel, Joshua didn’t need to fear anything. And when God is with you, there is nothing to fear. He will lead the way.

My Thoughts

I think the most important legacy that Moses left for Joshua was the promise that God would be with him. That is also the most important advice we can leave behind for our children and grandchildren, for all of our friends and family really. As I have faced one health battle after another, the reality of my humanity and the inevitability of dying has become more real to me. I don’t mean that I expect it to happen at any moment, although it could. But the fact that we will all die is one that should prompt us to get our “ducks in a row” and spend time doing things that need to be done. The most important thing is to let our loved ones know that even after we have moved on to eternity with God, they are still here and God is still with them. Moses could have said something bitter like, “These stiff-necked people aren’t even worth leading. Look at me…they’re the reason I cannot go into the Promised Land.” He didn’t play the blame game or point out the obvious to Joshua. He gave him hope by pointing out that God was still with them. God isn’t the One who leads just one person faithfully; He leads each of us if we will follow, and that is a legacy worth sharing. Sharing in this case is more than caring…it’s offering hope for a future and a promise for a bright tomorrow when life on earth ends. No fear, no discouragement, just move forward with God. Several of my grandchildren participate in track and field events. And when they do the relay race, they don’t pass the baton and say, “It’s really tough out there, so I doubt you can do this.” They pass the baton and say things like, “Go, Fast! You can do it!” Thus they already know how a baton should be passed. Moses knew too. The question is: Do we?