What happens when there is a change in leadership? The rank and file needs reassurance, don’t they? This devotion looks at the time the leadership changed for the Wilderness Wanderers.
Nuggets
- It was time for Moses to die.
- Spoken like a true leader, Moses immediately thought about his successor.
- Joshua was chosen because he “… has the Spirit in him …” (Num. 27: 18 CSB).
Retirement. Took another job.
Suddenly, our fearless leader is gone.
Can we spell unease? How about concern?
That happened to the Wilderness Wanderers. Moses had led them for 40 years, but he wasn’t going into the Promised Land. Let’s look.
Let's Put It into Context
“Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that abundant water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank” (Num. 20: 11 CSB)
The Wilderness Wanderers had been complaining about the refreshment situation again. They didn’t like the manna and quail and wanted more water.
God was set to provide them with water. Moses just had to follow directions.
God did provide them with water. Moses did not follow directions. And it cost him big time.
Because Moses hit the rock instead of just talking to it, God did not allow him to enter into the Promised Land. No second chance. No negotiations — oh, yes. Moses tried (Deut. 3: 34-35).
God was judge, jury, and executioner.
Still, Moses had been a faithful servant. He put up with all the grumbling and complaining.
God did make one concession.
A Mountaintop Experience
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you will also be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was. When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against my command to demonstrate my holiness in their sight at the waters.’ Those were the Waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin” (Num. 27: 12-14 CSB)
It was time for Moses to die. Aaron had died back in Numbers 20: 28. The way it reads is Aaron humbly submitted to his death.
Now, it was Moses’ turn.
In Numbers 27, it just seems like God up and told Moses to go see the Promised Land. We know He didn’t.
Deuteronomy 3: 26 says, “But the LORD was angry with me because of you, and he would not listen to me. ‘That’s enough!’ he declared. ‘Speak of it no more’” (NLT). Moses tried to negotiate.
Can you just hear God saying to Moses, “Will you please just shut up about it? No, you are not going into the Promised Land. Your arguing is not going to change My mind.”
I bet Moses did feel like he had unfinished business. I mean, he knew those people better than his successor would. The crossing wasn’t going to be easy, and the settling was probably going to be even worse. He probably didn’t want to quit at this point.
God wasn’t having anything to do with that.
But God let Moses see the Promised Land. He took him up on a mountain and showed him the land. God allowed to see land of at least four of the tribes: Dan, Naphtali, Ephraim/Manasseh, and Judah.
Maybe God picked a mountain from which Moses could see for miles and miles. Maybe God used His power to boost Moses’ eyesight. Or maybe He did something totally awesome that took Moses above the land.
Doesn’t matter. What matters is Moses saw the Promised Land because God allowed it.
Where Were Moses’ Thoughts?
“So Moses appealed to the Lord, ‘May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd’” (Num. 27: 15-17 CSB)
Spoken like a true leader. Moses was the only leader they knew. They needed to make sure they get the succession right.
Because, face it, this is the Wilderness Wanderers we are talking about here.
Yes, God is the Big Boss. But Moses was the up-front man. He was the man the Wilderness Wanderers saw.
Moses saw his successor as someone who was chosen by God because he had a strong relationship with God. He saw him being a man of integrity.
No, God didn’t think Moses was being pushy or giving Him orders. God wants us to ask things of Him — even if He is going to do them.
God immediately picked Joshua. I always considered Joshua to be Moses’ assistant. It seemed logical that Joshua would succeed Moses.
Moses goes on to give the new man a job description. To some, it may sound a little circular. Let’s break it down.
“… who will go out before them and come back in before them …” (Num. 27: 17 CSB)
I see this as the Wilderness Wanderers having a leader that is visible. His actions will be seen by all because the new leader is transparent enough to conduct business out in the open, not behind closed doors.
“… who will bring them out and bring them in …” (Num. 27: 17 CSB)
Moses did lead the soldiers — but not like Joshua was going to have to do. I believe, Moses is talking in military terms here. He is describing them as they march out to meet the enemy and return. Military prowess was going to be essential.
“… so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd’” (Num. 27: 17 CSB)
That sounds familiar, doesn’t it? This is something similar to Matthew 9: 36. “When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt. 9: 36 CSB). Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10: 11 CSB).
Successor Named
“The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Have him stand before the priest Eleazar and the whole community, and commission him in their sight. Confer some of your authority on him so that the entire Israelite community will obey him. He will stand before the priest Eleazar who will consult the Lord for him with the decision of the Urim. He and all the Israelites with him, even the entire community, will go out and come back in at his command’” (Num. 27: 18-21 CSB)
See why Joshua was picked? He “… has the Spirit in him …” (Num. 27: 18 CSB). Where is the Spirit? “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” (I Cor. 3: 16 NLT).
Yes, that is New Testament, so try this. “And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations” (Ezek. 36: 27 NLT).
God put His Spirit in His children. Joshua had the Spirit in him. Joshua was a child of God. God picked Joshua.
It is important that ordination services be public. The Wilderness Wanderers had to see the changing of the guard. They had to see that this was who God had picked and was with for the duration.
The Wilderness Wanderers always saw that Moses was the spokesperson of God. They needed to see Moses “confer some of [his] authority on [Joshua] so that the entire Israelite community will obey him” (Num. 27: 20 CSB).
Ordination Day
“Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before the priest Eleazar and the entire community, laid his hands on him, and commissioned him, as the Lord had spoken through Moses” (Num. 27: 22-23 CSB)
Moses approved. Not that God really had to get Moses’ approval, but God knew Moses would be more content if he knew the Wilderness Wanderers would be in good hands. So, the ordination day went off as planned.
Making the Connections
I kept thinking of Moses’ dying with unfinished business like if I died halfway through writing a devotion. It would seem sad and make that devotion a waste.
But then I thought about those verses in Matthew. “Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding grain with a hand mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming” (Mt. 24: 40-42 CSB).
When Jesus returns, we will leave business unfinished. We can’t always tie things up in a pretty bow.
We have to be ready. We won’t know the day or time. We will have to keep our ducks in a row — or at least in the same pond. We should live our lives as if He were coming now.
But think about it this way. Moses was God’s person here on earth. It was to him to whom God gave the law. Moses was the representative of the law for the Wilderness Wanderers.
If the Promised Land is heaven, the law isn’t going to get us there. The law points to Jesus but does not offer redemption as Jesus does.
So, Joshua — whose name means Yahweh delivered — would deliver the people into the Promised Land.
Besides, it wasn’t Joshua — or Moses — delivering the Wilderness Wanderers to the Promised Land. It was God.
How Do We Apply This?
We can’t put our trust in Moses. We can’t even put it in Pastor Chad. We have to put our trust in God alone.
One day, this earth will all be gone. We will either have been called home or Jesus will have returned. That could be today or years from now. We have to be ready. We have to plan and prepare for that day.
We have to have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
We have to be seeking God to strengthen our relationship with Him.
Seeking God
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17 NLT).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3 ESV).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16 ESV).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11 NLT).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11 NLT).
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
Are you ready?
Father. You are a mighty God. You know everything that has happened in the past and what will happen in the future. You know our thoughts as well as our actions. We pray that we are preparing for Your return. Help us to grow closer to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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