Title: "Leadership Passed Down: Moses and Joshua" Be Fruitful & Multiply Series Introduction * Moses and Joshua’s relationship offers a powerful biblical example of mentorship and succession. Their dynamic demonstrates the importance of intentionally preparing the next generation to accomplish God’s mission. We are called to leave a legacy—not just to achieve for ourselves but to invest in others, passing on wisdom, faith, and leadership that will continue to impact the world long after we are gone. I. Moses’ Perspective: The Mentor 1. Recognizing the Potential in Joshua * Exodus 17:8-13: Exodus 17:8-13: 8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Moses trusts Joshua to lead the Israelites in battle against Amalek. * A mentor recognizes the potential in a disciple and actively creates opportunities for their growth. Success is not a solo endeavor—we can only go as far as our team. If we operate alone, our capacity is limited. For actual multiplication, we must intentionally choose trustworthy individuals who, in turn, will disciple others with integrity. The body of Christ thrives only when all its members function together in unity and purpose. As leaders, our foremost responsibility is to identify the right people, position them effectively, and empower them to carry out the work with excellence. 2. Teaching Through Example * Exodus 24:13-18: 13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. * A mentor invites their disciple into God’s presence and demonstrates spiritual leadership through example. The goal of discipleship is not to draw people closer to themselves but to lead them closer to the Lord. We are not seeking to create replicas of ourselves; we aim to help others become more like Jesus. Discipleship is about more than transferring knowledge—facilitating encounters with God. Transformation happens as we behold the glory of the Lord, and worship is one of the primary ways God reshapes us. The effectiveness of our leadership and the grace we carry depend significantly on our ability to practice and dwell in the presence of God. 3. Empowering for Leadership * Numbers 27:18-23: 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[a] and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 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.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses. * A mentor ensures that their disciple is well-prepared and accepted by others. Effective discipleship results in others recognizing the same wisdom, authority, and grace in our disciples that they see in us. Through Christ, we can impart what He has entrusted to us into the lives of those He places before us. Standing alongside those we have raised affirms our support and signals to others that these individuals are worthy of their trust and leadership. Commissioning is a powerful act that releases God’s anointing and calling upon the individual, inspiring confidence and alignment among those who will follow them. 4. Releasing with Confidence * Deuteronomy 34:9: 9 ...
