When Moses is Gone

“The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.” — Deuteronomy 34:8

For forty years, Moses had been there. When Pharaoh threatened, Moses was there. When the Red Sea stood in their way, Moses was there. When they had no food, no water, and no idea where they were going, Moses was there. He was their leader, teacher, and guide.

Then Moses died. And Israel wept. The Bible does not rush past their grief. For thirty days they stopped and mourned. God gave them time to remember the man who had led them, prayed for them, corrected them, and walked beside them. There is a time to grieve what is gone. But there also comes a time when God says, Now you must go forward.

After Moses died, God spoke to Joshua: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then… get ready to cross the Jordan River.” Those words sound almost harsh. Moses is dead. Now get up. But God was not telling them to forget Moses. He was reminding them that their future had never depended upon Moses. It depended upon God.

Israel was about to face a Jordan they had never crossed, enemies they had never fought, and a land they had never occupied. Moses would not be there to raise his staff or tell them what to do. But God would. He told Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

Sooner or later, we all stand where Israel stood. Someone we depended upon is gone. A parent dies. A spouse is no longer beside us. A trusted leader leaves. A friend moves away. A chapter closes. We look ahead and think, How can I do this without them?

Perhaps differently. Perhaps with tears. Perhaps one uncertain step at a time. But never alone.

God gives us people to love, teach, encourage, and guide us. We should treasure them while they are here and grieve them when they are gone. But our faith was never meant to stop where their footsteps stopped.

Moses may be gone. But the God of Moses is not.

Have a great week!

-Pastor Corey