Moses to Joshua

A Biblical Leadership Transition

Deuteronomy 31:1-3 (NKJV)

¹ Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

² And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the LORD has said to me, You shall not cross over this Jordan.

³ The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the LORD has said.

As New Beginnings Community Baptist Church heads into our 15^th Anniversary, there is a leadership change, ordained by God that is in transition. With all major events in our lives and in the life of the church, we always seek to understand what God is doing by looking back at Scripture to give us guidance, assurance and vision. 

As the season is changing from Spring to Summer here in Central California, we too are going through a change. Change from the leadership and Pastoral guidance by our founding Pastor, Dr. Angulus D. Wilson to Rev. Leighton Tong. 

I found strength and comfort in these 3 verses here in Deuteronomy Chapter 31, when Moses’ leadership was coming to an end and Joshua’s was just beginning. 

God reveals 3 things in these 3 verses that we can apply to our transition of leadership in 2023.

■  Moses’ Journey Ends

■  God’s Plan Endures

■  Joshua’s Leadership Elevation

"Moses' Journey Came to an End"

The first thing I see in verses 1 and 2 is that the journey of Moses leading the Israelite people from their captivity in Egypt to God’s promised land is that while the work and the journey wasn’t complete, Moses’s Journey came to an End. 

This journey, this ministry began long before the Exodus from Egypt. It began with Moses being born at a time when Pharoah had decreed that all male children must be killed. But God had a plan.

►He kept Moses hidden for 3 months before setting him free in the Nile River, only to be found by Pharoah’s daughter and adopted as her own. 

►As a son of Pharoah, he had the finest things growing up. He wasn’t treated as a Hebrew Slave, but as an adopted son into the royal family, he was given favor, privilege, protection, religious training and wisdom through teaching and training a slave would have never seen. 

 ►The Bible tells us that when Moses was 40, he killed an Egyptian man who was beating an Israelite slave and fled from his adopted land.

►He toiled for another 40 years as a shepherd and at the age of 80, God gave Moses the assignment that he was born for, protected for and trained for.  After 10 plagues on Egypt, Pharaoh released the Israelite people from their bondage beginning their journey to the promised land.

We know that they wandered in the desert for 40 years. Experiencing toils and troubles. Crises of Faith. They were guided and provided for and despite their disobedience, God never forsake them. He never left His people. All along, Moses led them and taught them. He interceded for them and rebuked, cautioned and corrected them. 

And at the end of these 40 years, when the Promised Land was in reach – God told Moses that his leadership and journey had come to an end. He declared to the people “the LORD has said to me, you shall not cross over this Jordan” 

What we learn here for us today is that Moses’ leadership had a beginning and had an end and no matter what Moses did, when God declared his journey over, it was over. No turning back and no going forward over the Jordan. No leading the people into the promised land. 

God has done the same here at New Beginnings and Pastor Wilson. 

God ordained every part of Pastor Wilson’s life.

All the ups and downs to get him to the assignment to plant and lead the New Beginnings Community Baptist Church in Fresno, California.

For 14 years he led us. He taught us. He helped us. He protected us. He rebuked and corrected us. He showed us how to walk closer with God. Pastor Wilson gave us God’s Word and instruction, no matter how much we liked or disliked it. 

Extraordinary classes in discipleship & knowledge of the Kingdom.

ABI 20-Year Virtual Conference: June 1, 2023 @ 7:00 pm.

ABI Graduation: June 3, 2023 @ 11am.

Questions/additional information contact:

Dean of ABI: Pastor Tong (559) 307-1310

"God's Plan Endures"

Everyone just knew Pastor Wilson was going to be here with us forever. Or at least to the end. But God. He determined that this journey here with us was over. It was time to move into the next phase of His plan. 

God’s Plan Endures

After having a good long talk with God, Moses declared that he could no longer go out and come in with Israelite people and that He would not cross over the Jordan into the land he had lead them to for 40 years. But that was God’s plan all along. 

God’s plans were created before time began and will endure throughout eternity. He doesn’t have a knee-jerk reaction to His people’s disobedience and rejection. He continued to pursue them and love them.

YAWEH knew they would go their own way. He knew that they would worship other gods and other things. He knew that the culture around them would influence them. He knew that Moses would lead them to but never lead them over into the promised land. 

The LORD said: 

 ►You will not cross over. 

 ► I will cross over before you.

 ► I will clear the rest of the way and

 ►Joshua will cross over leading the people.

Now the Bible doesn’t say how the people reacted, but in my sanctified imagination there was a lot of mumbling and grumbling. Why is Moses being taken away from us? Why is Joshua going to lead now? Did God forget about us?

And despite the objections and questions – God’s Plan Endures. 

It didn’t stop God that they were just that close. It didn’t stop God because Moses was 120 years old. And God didn’t stop to ask Moses, Joshua or the Israelite people if it was ok with them. Why? It was God’s Plan and God’s Plan Endures. Nothing will stop it. No one will stop it.  

Joshua’s Leadership Elevation

Lastly, we see that it was Joshua that was elevated into the position of leadership. It wasn’t their choice. It wasn’t Moses’s choice. It was God’s choice because it was in God’s plan. 

…Joshua himself crosses over before for you, just as the LORD has said.

There was no vote. There was no leadership search committee. Joshua was the man that God desired to take them to the next level in their journey. 

I made some observations here about Joshua. 

....Joshua was known by the Israelite people. 

....Joshua lived with them for years. 

....He journeyed with them for years. 

....He labored and fought for them and with them. 

....He was a man of commitment and loyalty. 

....Joshua was there when Moses taught, rebukes, guided and loved them. 

....Joshua was a man that knew God. Walked with God. 

....He was a man that God could trust and use. 

Joshua wasn’t an unknown and I’m pretty sure that he probably wasn’t everyone’s first, second or third choice. And maybe, just maybe, Joshua wasn’t so sure about this promotion. But…God’s Plan Endures and because it endures, Joshua was lifted to lead them all. 

That my brothers and my sisters is what God has done with me. 

....I’ve walked with many of you for almost as long as Pastor Wilson.

....I’ve been part of your lives and you’ve been part of ours.

....We’ve labored for the Kingdom together. 

....We’ve traveled and crossed lands together. 

....You’ve seen me battle in prayer and preaching and teaching.

....We’ve shared major life events together. The good and not so good. 

....I know God and walk with God. 

He chose me, despite my objections. He chose me as a man He could trust to lead and to not lead you astray. 

He moved in me and the LORD has said…

I don’t know what this future holds, I can’t see around the bend, but I trust the LORD. Because I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, His Will be done. 

And in the midst of my questions, concerns, tears and insecurities, He pointed me to 2 move verses here in Deuteronomy as the transition of leadership is nearly complete:

Deuteronomy 31:7-8

⁷ Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. ⁸ And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

New Beginnings Family, we will all miss and remember Pastor and Sis Wilson and how they poured their lives into all of us because of their love for Jesus. We’ll never forget what they led us through and lead us to. 

I love you and look forward to this part of the journey home. I am excited at what the LORD has next for us. Caryn and I are committed to serving and walking with you for as long as the Lord’s Plan Endures. ■