Joshua: Leadership Successor

According to "The Moses- Joshua Succession" by Kevin Beery, The primary truth is that God is in charge of succession. He always has been. Recognizing and developing emerging leaders will continue to be a task of current leadership. However, the choice of successor remains in God’s hands alone. This is because God is fulfilling His purposes through His chosen leaders. God knew when Moses had completed his task. God also realized that a new leader was required for the next stage, which was entering and taking the Promised Land.

The second principle of succession planning is to recognize and develop emerging leaders (Rothwell 2005). Existing leadership should keep in mind the competencies necessary (Metz 1998) to successfully complete the next step of God’s plan. God had given specific instructions as to how the Israelites were to train and prepare the emerging generation of leaders (Deuteronomy 6:6–9; 20–25; Blackaby and Blackaby 2001). However, no promises can be made to any potential leaders at any point in their training (Godevenos 2002). Leaders must rely on God’s guidance to discern in whom He has placed His Spirit.

The third principle of Christian succession planning goes farther than the second. Not only are potential leaders to be developed, but they must personally be mentored by the existing leader (Ready and Conger 2007). Programs are one thing; personal attention is quite another. Moses mentored Joshua for nearly 40 years before the leadership transition took place. Precisely because contemporary leaders do not have this much time for mentoring, they must maximize their mentoring in the time that they do have.

The fourth Christian ethical response to succession planning is for the leader to recognize his/her limitations. While this is not encouraged in the United States’ “can do” culture, it is nonetheless important. Moses knew that he would die before entering the Promised Land because God told him. Not many leaders are given this kind of advance warning, yet all leaders will eventually leave their positions for one reason or another. The wise leader realizes that one day he/she will step down from leadership and passes off leadership when it is time, even before he/she is forced to do it.

The final principle of succession planning is to share leadership. God told Moses to share some of his authority with Joshua so that the people would begin to obey Joshua (Numbers 27:20). It takes a strong leader to share authority and allow his people to

Succession issues and leadership transition is always a challenge. When succession is handled according to biblical principles, it can launch the organization into the next phase of God’s purposes for it. A competent leader will carefully study the succession principles found in the pages of God’s word to prepare for the inevitable transition to a new leader. In addition to the succession between Moses and Joshua, excellent examples of succession include Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and his disciples, and Paul and his. “It’s no coincidence that great spiritual leaders follow in the footsteps of great spiritual leaders”

PERSONAL INSIGHT

Moses, or our leaders, are not always beside us. Use every opportunity and time with them for you to really be strengthen, because you are always be their Joshua, the successor. Maximize every time to obey and submit to God by submitting to your Moses, and to his words. For every words that coming out from his mouth, comes from the mouth of the Lord. There will always be that triumphant moment that he will step down from leadership and passes the torch not to any other else, but to you, as the Torch successor of this generation. So, you must make every moment of training as your happy hour. Remember, you are Joshua, and you have the heart for the people. You are appointed and anointed to win every battle.

“It’s no coincidence that great spiritual leaders follow in the footsteps of great spiritual leaders”