Focal Passage: Numbers 27:12-23
In the business world, many executives will tell you that the most important thing you can do is to train your replacement. The reason is logical: it is easier for one to be promoted if someone is ready to step in to take their place.
Joshua was to succeed Moses as the leader of God’s people. Moses was nearing the end of his life and asked the Lord to give the people someone who would be like a shepherd. Moses himself was not qualified to be Israel’s shepherd. He had failed to honor God as holy before the people when they rebelled (Numbers 27:14). Rather, Moses was the imperfect under-shepherd. He had spent his years as Israel’s under-shepherd by leading them only as the Lord led him. The Lord was the true Shepherd.
Joshua would be commissioned, a term that carries with it political and military implications.
Joshua was not to accomplish the mission of leading God’s people in his own strength, he was given the spirit of leadership by the Lord.
God calls out people to lead His people. God calls and commissions under-shepherds to do the dirty work of ministry: to live among sheep and instruct them in the ways of the Lord. It is critical that we pray for our pastors and leaders. Pray that they would be led by the Lord in their ministries to lead us. Pray that their commission to faithfully do the work of the ministry would come from an overflow of their own walk with the true Shepherd.