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Deuteronomy 3:23-28 – How Do We Treat Our Replacement?
We messed up. There’s no denying the facts. Plead our case, begging at least for another chance, the answer remains the same – no. Removal and replacement follows. How do we treat our replacement? This is not just a hypothetical question because most if not all of us have been or will be replaced. There is the possibility that we will become bitter towards our replacement instead of becoming a better person.
Moses wanted to enter into the Promised Land. Moses begged God to reverse His decision.
Deuteronomy 3:23-25 HCSB (23) “At that time I begged the LORD: (24) Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can perform deeds and mighty acts like Yours? (25) Please let me cross over and see the beautiful land on the other side of the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.
God says no, abruptly:
Deuteronomy 3:26-27 HCSB (26) “But the LORD was angry with me on account of you and would not listen to me. The LORD said to me, ‘That’s enough! Do not speak to Me again about this matter. (27) Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west, north, south, and east, and see it with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan.
Then our God said to Moses concerning his substitute who had been his servant,
Deuteronomy 3:28 HCSB But commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit this land that you will see.’
To encourage is more than just saying, “Hope you do well.” To encourage means “to strengthen.” While Moses was a strong leader, a moment of weakness caused his fall, leading to his failure to enter the land. To encourage therefore can be totally objective – “Be strong in the Lord.” To encourage can also be subjective with a hint of regret – “Be strong, unlike me.” Either way, we treat our replacement with hope for their success.
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