Numbers 27: 18 "...Take Joshua the son of
Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay
your hands on him."
Moses was told that he would not live to
lead Israel into the Promised Land and that
he must hand off the leadership to Joshua
(vv. 12-13). Even though Joshua was
the obvious choice, Moses wisely waited
until God clearly designated Joshua as his
successor. Then...Moses was to
designate that Joshua was his
successor, God's choice, publicly before the
congregation (v. 19). This decision
would require some time for the transfer so
that Israel would have a season of adjusting
and understanding that Joshua would be
leading, before Moses was suddenly gone from
them.
We should constantly be in a season of
transferring our authority and leadership to
faithful men (2 Tim. 2: 2). Those who
want to be in control up until the last
moment of their life and ministry are not
doing the next generation any favors. And
they may cause an unnecessary drift or lag
until the leadership gets up to speed.
It is wise to give the next generation the
plans so that the successor(s) will be
clearly identified and not just "assume"
that the successor will smoothly step up,
take the leadership and lead. This
would be a point for Israel in which there
would be clear transference of leadership to
the next generation. Moses would have
Joshua stand before Eleazar, the high
priest, and before the congregation and
commission Joshua as Moses' heir
apparent/successor. Once Moses was
gone there would be no question about who to
follow and what was the plan. When the
time came that Moses did not come down from
Mount Nebo, there would be mourning for
Moses for 30 days (Deut. 34: 8). After
that, the entire nation would know who to
follow and who was in charge--Joshua!
There are seasons when we are to lead
faithfully and obediently and then there
will come the season of letting
go--faithfully and obediently. As we
seek the Lord, we will know when that time
comes and God will also raise up our
successors; when it does, honor them and let
them lead with your blessing!
In Christ,
Tommy Middleton
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