Every great leader needs a successor. Moses had Joshua.
From early on, Joshua was there in the background. His name pops up quietly at first. He fought the Amalekites while Moses prayed on the hill. He stayed near the tent of meeting, where Moses met with God, when others went home. He lingered close enough to see how Moses led, listened, prayed, and trusted. He wasn’t flashy; he was faithful.
Then, when Moses’ time drew to an end, God made the transition clear: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him.’” (Numbers 27:18)
That moment—Moses laying his hand on Joshua—was more than symbolic. It was a holy passing of the torch. Moses had been the liberator, the lawgiver, the man who met God on the mountain. But Joshua would be the one to lead the people into the Promised Land.
It’s not always easy to hand over leadership. Moses didn’t get to finish the journey he started. Nor did he get to see Joshua’s leadership in action. Yet he trusted that God’s work was bigger than one person, and that Joshua would carry it forward. There’s wisdom in that kind of humility.
Even though none of us may be “great leaders” like Moses, the Church still relies on us to mentor and encourage one another. Sometimes we’re the ones preparing the way for someone else to finish the work. Sometimes we’re the ones stepping into another’s shoes, trying not to trip over them. Either way, God is at work, weaving faithfulness from one life into another.
Joshua’s story reminds us that learning and leading often happen side by side. He learned by watching, serving, and waiting. And when his moment came, he stepped up—not as a copy of Moses, but as himself, led by the same God.
In our own lives, we’re all called to both roles—to mentor and to be mentored. To pour into others and to receive from others. God’s kingdom thrives on a rhythm of shared faith. God’s kingdom also demands trust in God. Just as Moses didn’t get to see how or where Joshua would lead, we don’t often see the results of our work or know how things will turn out. When we share our faith with our children, grandchildren, or others, will our words someday make a difference? We wonder if what we say or do matters. That’s where Moses’ story comes in. Moses spent 40 years with Joshua and never saw the impact he made. He did his best and trusted God for the rest. From him, we can learn to do the same.
As we’ve seen through the past few meditations, Moses didn’t do it alone—and neither should we.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Joshuas and the Moseses—those who guide and encourage us and those we guide and encourage. Teach us to lead with humility, to learn with grace, and to trust that your work will continue long after our part is done. Amen.
