Choosing and Equipping Leaders

Numbers 27:12-23

When the time came for Moses to die, he asked God to appoint a new leader for the people.  God told Moses to anoint Joshua.  He was to present Joshua to Eleazer the priest, in front of the entire community.  He was supposed to transfere some of the authority he had onto Joshua.

Moses commissioned Joshua in front of all the people to show them that he had the authority to lead them.

Why Joshua? I believe for a few reasons.
     1) Joshua had a deep spirit of worship.  He stayed in the Tent of Meeting before
         the Lord (Exodus 33:11).
     2) Joshua had faith in God.  He trusted God to take them into the promise land even against the
         arguments of ten of the other spies.
     3) Joshua had been trained under Moses.  He had heard God speak to Moses.  Joshua knew
         what he was facing in leading the Israelites.  Other then Caleb, Joshua was the only person
         who had been alive when the Israelites walked out of Egypt.

God equips those who He calls.  Moses was not an eloquent speaker, but God used him to speak to the King of Egypt.  Joshua  had grown up as a slave - now God was using him to lead the entire nation.

If God can use them, He can and will use us.  He equipped them for what they needed to do and face, and He is the same God today.  Yield yourself to God totally and completely and see how He can use you to reach this lost, dying world.