Following in the footsteps of a retiring leader is not always an easy task. If the person was outstanding at what they were doing, brought good leadership to the position, and fulfilled their duties with the qualities to do it well, their influence and legacy is impactful and longstanding. Imagine Joshua preparing to follow Moses. Moses had led the often whiny and complaining Israelites around in the desert for forty years after they decided not to listen to God’s directions. Moses was the leader to whom God gave all the laws and directions for right living in relationship to God. Moses was so close to God his face glowed. Now, imagine being Joshua – the newly announced successor. If I were Joshua I would be thinking that this was going to be a huge role to fill.
And it was. But Joshua knew what he was getting himself into. He’d been one of the twelve spies who had seen the bounty and goodness of Canaan and told the Israelites they should – and could – conquer the land. He’d lived the next forty years waiting until the unbelieving generation had died off to see his opportunity to enter and possess that land. And he’d watched Moses navigate the leadership of this “stubborn and stiff necked” people. He knew that leading them was not going to be easy. This is probably why God gave Joshua his own commission, directions, and encouragement.
“Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.” (Joshua 1:1-9 MSG)
God gives Joshua a huge vision for his calling, but doesn’t leave him to figure it out on his own. Instead, he tells him what he needs – strength, courage, heart and soul, and God’s revelation to him. And what is the best part? God is with him every step he takes.
God,
Thank you for your callings upon our lives. Thank you that you are with us, you won’t give up on us and you won’t leave us. Thank you for your strength and courage that gives us the heart and soul to continue serving you. Help us to remember always that your Word is with us and help us to ponder it, meditate on it, and practice everything written in it. Help us not to be timid or discouraged because we know you, our God are with us in every step we take. Thank you for the ways in which we receive the batons of godly leadership from others and then pass them to the next generation. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
“Then the LORD said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.” (Exodus 32:9 NLT)
“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people.” (Exodus 32:9 NIV)