Be Strong! Be Bold! The Lord will be with you!


Deuteronomy 31:6 – Wadriski Writes
FRI EP Reflection 071020 (Deut. 31:7-13, 31:24-32:4; Romans 10:1-13)
“Be strong, be bold… It is the Lord who goes before you, He will be with you; he will not fail you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Moses told young Joshua. These are words anyone would love to hear anytime. What is the task that God is giving you as a believer? If you are a prayer warrior, then pray like there is no tomorrow. If you are a father or a mother, leading, nurturing and caring for your family is the amazing task that God has given you. Do it boldly and courageously, because if we don’t do it, video games and television will do it for us. I know this is crazy! But You, are an amazing creation of God, of course you can be used by God. You have strengths so unique to you that perhaps, have been a bit unexplored. When we began to hear about young Joshua, it was in Exodus 33: 11. Joshua was Moses’ young assistant, he went on to be part of the spies that went into the promised land and gave a positive report. That’s when his incredible talent as a leader, his faith and wisdom was observed. In this passage, Moses began to prepare him to lead Israel in the task of entering the promised land. As believers we have a task to pray for God’s Kingdom to come. Be bold, courageous, pray for your family, your community, your country… God will strengthen you, don’t fear! Moses told Joshua. Then Moses proceeded to give a national address with a warning tone as part of his legacy and also God’s instructions to them.
He said: “For I know well how rebellious and stubborn you are!” That made me think about the present turmoil in the middle East and how those words are still true today because, a chance for peace is squashed every time. Moses did not want them to do what is evil in the sight of God, provoking God’s anger with their actions, so as a parent would, he cautioned them, warned them, gave them a book as a witness against them to be kept in the holy of Holies. We may think that life in theocracy, (meaning where the country is governed by God) is far different from today’s democracies but the heart of man has not changed. I see similar behaviors of the people then as well as now. God gives us instructions and tell us about the boundaries and we break them just like Adam and Eve, this is true both then and now. We live by the desires of the flesh instead of living by the desires of the Spirit, that’s why the real issue, is the issue of the heart. The Bible tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9).
Moses was pleading with them to change their ways and turn to the Lord. I noticed that Paul’s words to the Romans echoes Moses’ sentiment: “Brothers and Sisters; my heart’s desire and prayer to God for you, is that you may be saved.” Paul appealed to their hearts telling them about the righteousness that comes from God. Moses’ appeal at the time, was concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ It was sort of, if you will, a line of conduct that is worthy of God. Paul knew that and he tells the Romans that Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Both Paul and Moses didn’t want us to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. They are pointing us into the direction towards CHRIST.
I am still thinking about those words in Joshua’s charge! Could they be applicable to us today? Are you a follower of Jesus Christ of Nazareth? This is how the message would be for you:
Be Strong! Be Bold! The Lord will be with you in whatever task at hand! Don’t fear or be dismayed by everything that is going on around you!
Be blessed forever!

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