The book of Joshua opens by confirming the death of Moses, followed by a curious instruction: Now you go into the Promised Land.
Imagine that, an entire nation was put on hold, unable to move — until Moses died. Moses had to die for them to receive what God had promised to give them.
What if Moses had stubbornly clung to life for another month, another year, or even longer, holding on to a vain hope that he would also be allowed to enter the Promised Land?
Then the people would have had to wait even longer. Or what if Moses had died a bit sooner? Perhaps the people could have moved forward a bit sooner.
Though it seems morbid, Moses’ death was a good thing for the people. Though their faithful leader was gone, only then could they receive God’s promised provision. His death was a necessary requirement for their journey.
It’s kind of like receiving an inheritance. The person needs to die for the gift to be given. Their death releases what has been promised.
It’s kind of like Jesus. He, too, had to die for us to receive what God had in store for us. His death was sad and horrific, but it was necessary for what happened next — our salvation.
A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.
