Leadership Transition

c. In verse 21 God directs how Joshua’s leadership is to function. “He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in." Joshua is given much authority but not unlimited authority. He is to function in relationship to other spiritual leaders as well. “He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the LORD.” All human authority has limitations. God alone has unlimited authority. And even here Joshua isn’t alone in the process of hearing the Lord. Hearing God is something we do in humble cooperation with one another—amen?

Now let’s go to Joshua 1 and get the rest of the story. We’ve seen what the Lord said to Moses about this and how Moses responded.

II. Look at God’s Instruction to Joshua.

1st God told him to get ready for what God is about to do.

Josh 1:1 “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide.”

a. There we have more information about Joshua’s qualification for leadership. The Lord spoke to Joshua and Joshua heard the Lord. That is essential to spiritual leadership. We have had so much emphasis on techniques and skills for leadership that we sometimes overlook the greatest qualification. A spiritual leader must be in communion with God. He must be able to hear God because his primary function is to simply hear and obey.

“The Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide.” Joshua had been loyal and faithful in his previous assignment. He had been Moses’ Associate Pastor (if you will) and had submitted himself to authority. We don’t know how to be in authority until we have learned how to submit to authority. Were there times that he wondered about the way Moses was handling things? I would think so. But he knew the boundaries of his authority and functioned in those boundaries. That is a powerful thing for people to know and understand. If we’re faithful over a little then God will entrust more authority to us.[5] But there are always tests of submission and faithfulness to be passed. It’s not just about talent and gifting. It is also about character and integrity.

Josh 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then...” Timing is everything.

b. God chose the time. The time had come for the transfer of leadership to occur. Moses had completed his assignment. Moses had led Israel out of bondage and led them into the Sinai covenant with God. But God was not finished with what He had planned for His people. Moses led them up to the promise land and that was an awesome accomplishment—one that would be celebrated for the rest of Israel’s history at the Passover Feast, Feast of Tabernacles, and other occasions. But God led His people to the Promise Land so they could enter into it not just look at it.[6] Now it was time for Joshua to lead them forward.

Still in verse 2 “Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites.”