Moses turned 120 years old on this day. He told the Israelites that he was no longer free to move about like when he was young. God had told him he would not cross the Jordan into 

Canaan (vv. 1-2 cf. vv. 24-25). But He will go before them to possess the land and destroy the nations as He did with the Amorites (vv. 3-4). Joshua will be leading them instead. However, they must obey His commandments. They must also be strong and courageous and not to fear their enemies as God promised to be with them (vv. 5-6).

So, in verses 7-8, Moses called Joshua to come before the people and commanded him, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” After having written down the law, he instructed the priests to put it into the ark of the covenant; and to read to the people at the end of every seven years at the Feast of the Tabernacle so the people are reminded to fear the Lord and obey the law in the land they will being possessing (vv. 9-13)

God told Moses that before he passed, he was to present Joshua before Him at the tent of meeting for commissioning. The Lord appeared in a pillar of cloud over the entrance of the tent when they were at the entrance of the tent (vv. 14-15). He said that the people will “whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them” (vv. 16-17). He will withdraw His presence from them in His anger (v. 18). The song Moses wrote down, he must teach it to the Israelites (vv. 19-23).

God then commissioned Joshua. He said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.” After Moses finished writing down the law, he told the Levites to tell the people that when he was alive, they were rebellious and stubborn and how much more after his death (vv. 24-27 cf. v. 29). He told them to gather the leaders so he can tell them what God wanted him to say (vv. 18-29). So, Moses spoke the words of the song to the people (v. 30).

The succession of Moses’ leadership by Joshua was by God. Earlier, God had told Moses to appoint Joshua to take over him. Now, He tells Moses to present Joshua at the tent of meeting for commissioning. Joshua and Caleb were the two of the twelve spies who feared God more than they feared men. They reported that the land could be conquered with God’s help, unlike the ten spies who said differently. A leader is chosen by God and not by men. He must display to have faith in God instead of faith in himself or others. 

Thus, the modern way for the succession of leaders is by election based more on practical reasons than biblical ones. Although, it is not wrong to choose men who can do the job we do not pray like Jesus before we choose them. We most certainly do not elect based on their fear of God or faith in God. In the worst case, it is based on popularity or who will represent my needs. The succession of leadership must be “bathed” in prayers, and observed from the person’s faith in God, more than in men or himself. 

Reflection and Prayer: How do we elect our leaders to serve the body of Christ? It is by popularity or whether they will represent us in our needs; or is it because they are godly?