Moses is Dead

I bless you with
The opening line
Of God’s motivational
Speech to Joshua
As the son of Nun
Prepared to take the
Promised Land:

“Moses my servant
Is dead.” (Joshua 1:2)

What?!
That’s God’s opener
To inspire His commanding general?

Joshua loved Moses, his spiritual dad.
Joshua learned everything from Moses.
Joshua had always counted on Moses.

Isn’t this salt in the wound
Of Joshua’s grief?

No—it’s God’s proclamation of
Confidence in his new man.

God was saying:
“Moses was wonderful
And I used him powerfully—
But Moses is not here.
Moses is dead,
But you’re not, Joshua!
What you’ve relied on in the past
Is not what you need now.
Now, you’re the man, Joshua
And I’m with you!”

Child of God,
Don’t worry if what you’ve
Always counted on in the past
Is no longer here—
It’s a new day,
And God is with you here and now!