WHEN LEADERS CHANGE
Opening Prayer
I praise You, God, that You are the same yesterday, today and forever.
Read Deuteronomy 31:1–13
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Joshua to Succeed Moses
31 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. 4 And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. 5 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Public Reading of the Law
9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Festival of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Think about changes in leadership you have experienced—in church, at work, in the nation.Moses was coming to the end of his life. He was now 120 years old and God had forbidden him from entering the land (Num. 20:1–13). At the end of his preparation speeches he wanted the people to have continuity in the midst of all the changes as Joshua became the leader. Even with great leadership succession it can be hard for some to follow the new leader. We may experience the same thing in church—as a senior leader retires, the replacement doesn’t feel the same. How can we experience continuity?
First, Moses was clear that God is the ultimate leader to lead the nation (1–8). Their faith should never have been in a human leader, but in God himself. The same is true today. God is the one who brings blessing and builds his church, not any human leader (although we are right to thank God for human leaders and follow their leadership).
Second, Moses made provision for the words of God to be heard by everyone (9–13). In the days before personal Bibles, public reading was critical. The event described here is a significant one—every seventh year, at the feast, including women and children. Seeing God at work, and God’s Word being heard—leadership and continuity for changing times.
Apply
How is God at work in your situation right now? How is God’s Word shaping your life today? Write down the ways you see God working.
Closing prayer
Thank You, God, that even in the changes of life You are in control and You have my best interests at heart.
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