Numbers 27 -- Readying To Pass The Baton

Moses had led the people for 40 years and was now 120 years old.  God had sustained him, keeping him physically strong and mentally alert despite his age.  It was time for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land and time for leadership to be transferred, since Moses wouldn’t be allowed to enter the Promised Land because of his pride and anger at Meribah.  Despite this unfortunate failure, God and Moses communed as friend with friend.  Therefore, when God told Moses he could climb the mountain to see the land and then he would die, Moses wasn’t even concerned that his death was imminent.  He instead worried about leadership for his nation.

God had already been at work on that task over the years, bringing Joshua alongside Moses at Sinai as he climbed that mountain to receive the Law.  Joshua had lived life beside Moses and learned by watching how Moses led by depending on God.  Most importantly, God said of Joshua, “My Spirit is in him.”  Joshua was concerned for the glory of God rather than his own glory, as well as for the welfare of the people.  By the time of Moses’ death, Joshua had been well-trained to take over the leadership of Israel.

My commentary brought it to the present:  “One of the responsibilities of Christian leaders today is to see that the next generation is equipped to carry on the work.  Each local church is just one generation short of extinction, and unless we teach and train new leaders, we jeopardize the future of our homes, churches, and nation.”

Father God, help me to be wise in training younger people with the knowledge You’ve given me so that they can pick up where I will someday leave off.  Help me to prepare my sons to be leaders and ready their hearts for what You have in mind for them.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford