Date: 03-08-2021

Title: A New Leader

(S) cripture:
    Numbers 27:12-23 (NLT2) One day the LORD said to Moses, “Climb one of the mountains east of the river, and look out over the land I have given the people of Israel. 13 After you have seen it, you will die like your brother, Aaron, 14 for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) 15 Then Moses said to the LORD, 16 “O LORD, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community. 17 Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18 The LORD replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19 Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. 20 Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him. 21 When direction from the LORD is needed, Joshua will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will use the Urim—one of the sacred lots cast before the LORD—to determine his will. This is how Joshua and the rest of the community of Israel will determine everything they should do.” 22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded. He presented Joshua to Eleazar the priest and the whole community. 23 Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

(O) bservation:
    Moses is not spared God’s punishment for his sin at Meribah. In this passage God tells Moses to climb a mountain and look at the promised land but that he would not enter it because of his sin. Moses asks for God to appoint a new leader for the people and God tells Moses to appoint Joshua. Moses presents Joshua to the priest and before the people. Moses lays hands on Joshua, a symbol of transferring authority to Joshua, just as the Lord had commanded.

(A) pplication:
    The transfer of authority and leadership is difficult. We see too often a former pastor leaving a church but not really leaving. When the new leader is doing things differently and people inquire it is difficult to remain silent. Our American Baptist Code of Ethics, which I signed, says that when you leave you leave and do not interfere with the leadership of the church. I am thankful for the two churches I served and have people I love deeply in both congregations. I am no longer their pastor and so I stay out of trying to influence what the church should or should not do. I left as pastor but not as friend. I was convinced in my prayer life that it was time for me to leave and a new leader to come and I believe that is what God wanted.

(P) rayer:
    Lord thank you for allowing me to lead some incredible congregations of your people. Thank you for the friendships that were developed and continue to this day. Thank you for the leader you have brought to those churches. I pray that they lead the congregations to follow you. Amen