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Time was running out, and he had so much to tell them. Soon he’d be leaving and they would have to go on with out him; but he wanted to be sure they remembered everything they’d learned. They must memorize the instructions and pass them on to their children. Future generations must continue to celebrate the victories God had given them.
The fertile land lay invitingly beyond, and he could envision all that he would never see: abundant crops, real houses instead of tents, a permanent place to worship, and growing cities. Like a father agonizing over his children, he wanted to take each one into his arms, look deep into each pair of eyes and reassure them that they would all be together again someday, if they would just obey. And he wanted to extract a promise from each that they would do so.
Closing his tired eyes, he bowed his head and prayed.
“You know making speeches has never been easy for me, and this is probably the most important one I’ll ever have to make. What do I say? What words of encouragement will keep them moving on within Your plan? So many times before they haven’t listened to me, or they’ve disobeyed when they were discouraged or impatient. Please, speak to them again through me this one last time.”
The courage that welled up within him was familiar, but not his own. He no longer feared that his faltering speech would distract them from listening to what he knew God wanted him to tell them. He would not give way to tears. He would not beg nor plead with them. Instead, he would remind them of who they were, where they had been for so long and how God had gone before them night and day, defeating their enemies in seemingly impossible situations.
He would repeat the commandments that were written in stone, and retell how God had blessed them when they obeyed but withheld His blessing when they turned away from Him. By remembering God’s faithfulness in providing for their needs just as He promised, they would be assured that God would keep the big promise they’d held on to all these years – a place of their own.
Yes, by simply stating the Law and reviewing the historical consequences of their disobedience versus obedience, they would be motivated to go on and receive all of the abundance that God had in store for them.
He looked up and out at the crowd with a love that radiated from the depths of his soul. Even those who stood far away were captivated into silence by his commanding presence as they breathlessly anticipated the words from their beloved leader.
Straightening his shoulders and standing tall, Moses raised his hands in acknowledgement, and began the historical review that would prepare the people to cross over into the Promised Land without him.
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