I Will Not Fear

1 Then Moses continued to speak these words to all Israel, 2 saying, “I am now 120 years old; I can no longer act as your leader. The Lord has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan.’

The old generation had died off, except for Caleb, Joshua, and Moses; and now Moses was to move off the scene. These are “transition chapters” as Moses gives his final words to the people he has loved and led for forty years. It is amazing that Moses remained so loyal to his people, for they were guilty of criticizing him, rebelling against him, and lying about him. Moses knew that he himself would not enter Canaan, yet he did everything possible to enable Israel to enter! Of course, Moses was faithful to the Lord (Heb. 3:1–6), and this is why he was so faithful to Israel.

Deuteronomy 31:3–6 CSB

3 The Lord your God is the one who will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord has said. 4 The Lord will deal with them as he did Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and their land when he destroyed them. 5 The Lord will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”

Why Should We Not Fear?

God is already there

Deuteronomy 31:3 CSB

3 The Lord your God is the one who will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord has said.

God puts people in our lives for help, encouragement, and accountability

God is more powerful than anything we will ever encounter

Deuteronomy 31:4 CSB

4 The Lord will deal with them as he did Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and their land when he destroyed them.

God will fight the battle for us

Deuteronomy 31:5 CSB

5 The Lord will deliver them over to you, and you must do to them exactly as I have commanded you.

God will never abandon you

Deuteronomy 31:6 CSB

6 Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”

Why Do We Fear?

We have misplaced trust

Proverbs 3:5–6 CSB

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

Why do we have misplaced trust?

Our Pride Gets in the Way

Proverbs 16:18 CSB

18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 21:4 CSB

4 The lamp that guides the wicked— haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—is sin.

Pride is a settled determination to steal the honor due to the Lord for ourselves.

Isaiah 2:11 CSB

11 The pride of mankind will be humbled, and human loftiness will be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted on that day.

What has Pride Caused us to do?

Our Vision has been Compromised

Hebrews 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,

Hebrews 12:2 CSB

2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Repent

Refocus

Return

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