It was the end of an era.  The one everyone had looked to for leadership was no longer here.  He had weathered the storms, put up with so much, and yet stayed true to his calling.  But now he was gone.  Even God took note and made sure Joshua knew.  “Moses my servant is dead,” the Lord told him (Joshua 1:2).  Pretty straightforward words, don’t you think?  However the Lord had something else to say to Joshua: “Now therefore arise, go….”  And later in verse 6, “Be strong and of a good courage; for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land….”  In both instances, the Lord acknowledged that things had changed, drastically changed, but He still had something for Joshua to accomplish; sitting still was not an option.  There was a nation to lead, a land to conquer, and a new home for Israel to be established.  But how would Joshua do it all without Moses?  God then reminded him that Moses was not the bottom line when it came to moving forward.  In verse 9, He reminded the new leader “for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.”  Life takes us all through changes.  Small changes to radical changes and everywhere in-between.  If our strength and motivation is in that possession, that job, that situation, that person, that place, or anything else, well, we’re done for.  But if our ability to go on is focused on the Unchanging One who never forsakes us and reminds us that He still has something for us to accomplish, we’ll pick ourselves up and follow the Lord’s call to “arise, go….”  So don’t let change or loss keep you in the wilderness.  Look to your God, see what He has for you to do, cross the Jordan, and in His strength take the land.  “Be strong and of a good courage!”