Day 40 Reading Schedule: Deuteronomy 33-34, Joshua1-3

Deuteronomy 33: Moses' Blessing for the Twelve Tribes 

[Overview]

This chapter records the blessings Moses proclaimed to the twelve tribes of Israel before his death. These blessings are almost similar in content to the prophecies Jacob proclaimed to his twelve sons. However, unlike Jacob's prophecies that simultaneously mention blessings and curses for each tribe, Moses only prophesies blessings. This is to encourage the Israelites who are about to enter Canaan, and at the same time, to foretell the blessings of salvation that will come to spiritual Israel in the history of redemption. Moses sang the contents of the blessings for the twelve tribes (vv. 6-25), assuming that Israel would receive God's blessings through the covenant relationship (vv. 1-5). He concluded by emphasizing once again that Israel is the most blessed nation among all nations (vv. 26-29).

Chapter 33 of Deuteronomy records the testamentary blessings Moses gave to Israel following the song of Moses in the previous chapter. Considering that in the Old Testament, a blessing given before death was both a testament and a prophetic nature, this chapter is a kind of prophetic prayer. Moses, who must have had a special feeling for the Israelites, will disappear into the back alleys of history after giving this blessing.

Deuteronomy 34: The End of Moses 

[Overview]

This chapter is the concluding part of the Pentateuch along with Deuteronomy, and deals with the death of Moses, the main character. God took Moses, who had finished his official leadership duties and personal will, to Mount Nebo in the plains of Moab and showed him the land of Canaan that the Israelites would eventually occupy. God did not allow Moses to enter Canaan and caused him to pass away there. At that time, Moses was 120 years old, but his strength was intact. The Israelites buried Moses in a valley in the land of Moab and mourned for thirty days (vv. 1-8). After Moses, Joshua succeeded him as the leader of Israel. The chapter ends with Moses recalling that he was the greatest prophet in the history of Israel (vv. 9-12). In this way, the history of redemption, which had been running toward the promised land, opens a new dimension centered on the promised land that was realized with the death of Moses.

Chapter 34 of the Bible is the chapter that records the death of Moses, the man of God. Moses, who had finished his moving sermon on the plains of Moab, had to end his life without entering Canaan as God had said. On the other hand, some have raised the question of whether Moses left a record of his death. There are two possible explanations. First, there is the possibility that Moses, who wrote the account of creation under the inspiration of God, also wrote the account of his own death under the inspiration of God. Second, there is the possibility that the account of Moses’ death was added after Moses’ successor, Joshua. Neither of these possibilities contradicts the great proposition that the Word was written under the inspiration of God.

Joshua 1: Joshua, the leader of Israel 

[Summary]

The era of Moses, the great leader of the Exodus, ended and now the era of Joshua began. This chapter describes Joshua beginning his mission as the leader of Israel. God commanded Joshua, who was to succeed Moses and lead Israel into Canaan, to keep the law and also told him that God would be with him (verses 1-9). Encouraged by this, Joshua prepared to cross the Jordan River and encouraged the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh who would lead the way (verses 10-15). The people also acknowledged Joshua as their leader and pledged to obey his commands (verses 16-18).

This chapter is a part that is historically connected to the Pentateuch, and it is a scene where Joshua, who would become the new leader of Israel after Moses and lead the war to conquer Canaan, receives a calling from God and receives a promise of active support. Therefore, just as God promised the land of Canaan and gave us that land, our salvation also comes from God and will be completed in Him.

Joshua 2: The Israelite Spies and Rahab 

[Summary]

This chapter records the events that Joshua experienced when he sent two spies before entering Canaan. Joshua sent the two spies to Shittim, but they were caught by the king of Jericho and were in danger. However, they escaped the crisis with the help of the prostitute Rahab (vv. 1-7). Rahab, who helped them, confessed her faith in God and asked that she and her family be saved when the Israelite army attacked Jericho, and the spies granted it (vv. 8-14). Afterwards, the spies who escaped safely with Rahab’s help reported that Israel would be victorious over the Canaanites (vv. 15-24). This is in contrast to the unbelieving behavior of the spies in Numbers 13, and foreshadows the success of the conquest of Canaan.

Joshua, who had received the promise of support from God and the assurance of absolute obedience from the people, finally raised the torch of the war to conquer Canaan. As a preparation for this work, he sent two spies to infiltrate the city of Jericho to investigate the situation of the city. At this time, the two spies safely completed their assigned mission thanks to the devoted help of the prostitute Rahab based on her faith.

Joshua 3: Israel's Crossing of the Jordan River 

[Summary]

This chapter records the historical event of the Israelites finally entering the promised land, after they had longed for the land of Canaan for 500 years after God promised to give it to Abraham. Joshua had the people prepare to cross the Jordan River with the Ark of the Covenant in front of them to enter the land of Canaan (verses 1-6). God promised Joshua that He would always be with him and gave him courage, and Joshua encouraged the people with the strength of God's words (verses 7-13). Finally, when the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, who had been standing in the front, stepped into the Jordan River, the water stopped flowing, and bare ground appeared, allowing all the people to cross the river safely (verses 14-17). The second generation of the Exodus, who had heard the story of Moses' successful Exodus by parting the Red Sea, gained confidence in God's covenant and power by experiencing the same miracle at the beginning of their historical entry into Canaan.

Chapters 1 and 2 introduce the scene of Joshua's calling as the new leader of Israel in place of Moses, and the incident of spying on Jericho before the war to conquer Canaan. Chapters 1 through 5 introduce the scene of finally crossing the Jordan River and entering the promised land of Canaan. Indeed, this entire journey was led and accomplished from the beginning by God, who loves Israel. Therefore, we must not forget that the only key to entering the heavenly Canaan (heaven) is also God's zeal.