In Deuteronomy 1, Moses starts his final plea to God's people encouraging them to choose God and choose life. He gives a final call to covenant faithfulness for the new generation that will be moving forward into the Promised Land. He recounts the day God told them "You have stayed at this mountain long enough. It is time to break camp and move on." There have been countless times when I've wandered into the "wilderness" and God has brought me to this verse. He whispers out - okay, enough now, "Don't be afraid! Don't be discouraged!" - and move on. Moses recounts the time when the burden he felt was just too much for one person. There are so many times the burdens we face are too much. God did not call us to be alone and carry our burdens alone. He called us to community and to help each other carry burdens along the way. He reminds God's people to trust in God and to faithfully obey Him. He remembers that God told him to encourage Joshua as Joshua is about to lead His people into the Promised Land. We should encourage and exhort each other every day. There is an enemy desiring nothing more than to crush us and take us out. This is a real war. We need to gather, encourage, and fight with all our guts. It's a daily battle, but we are in it together and have the very best Leader. He has final authority. We can trust Him.
