C.A.C Sunday School Manual For Leadership April 13, 2025, Lesson 12 : Topic - MOSES PREPARES JOSHUA TO LEAD GOD'S PEOPLE

  C.A.C Sunday School Manual For Leadership April 13, 2025, Lesson 12 : Topic - MOSES 

  PREPARES JOSHUA TO LEAD GOD'S PEOPLE 

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  CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

PREVIEW CLASS

Theme : PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP

JANUARY TO DECEMBER, 2025

APR 13, 2025.

LESSON 13

Unit 2: Leadership Preparation In The Old Testament (1)

Topic: MOSES PREPARES JOSHUA TO LEAD GOD'S PEOPLE

Memory Scripture

So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God (Exodus 24:13).

Moses taught Joshua to lead boldly, trust God, and follow His commands, ensuring God's care for His people beyond just passing on leadership.

Please note: Your leadership role cannot remain forever. You will one day stop the leadership role you started today, no matter how strong, powerful and educated you are. One out of these 5 situations will terminated your leadership role:

1. Old age

2. Sickness (illness)

3. Death

4. Pride

5. Disobedient

Therefore remember that you can't lead forever. The only one who can lead forever is God Almighty not you. Remember Adam, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Moses, Babalola, Abacha, Babangida, Bishop Benson Idahosa, Prophet Iyanda etc. When you're in position of power today don't abuse your position.

Prepare your Successor ahead of your retirement and appropriately.

BRIEF COMMENT

The Memory Scripture encapsulates Joshua's enduring loyalty and commitment to his mentor, Moses, and to the divine mission entrusted to them by God. Joshua is depicted not only as Moses' assistant but also as his faithful companion, accompanying him up Mount Sinai to receive the tablets of the Law and commune with God. These show Joshua's unwavering support and dedication to their shared calling. This moment signifies more than mere companionship; it underscores Joshua's role as a trusted partner in fulfilling God's purposes for the Israelites and foreshadows his future leadership as Moses' successor. By standing alongside Moses during this pivotal event, Joshua demonstrates his readiness for leadership development, responsibilities and commitment to upholding God's commandments. Ultimately, the Memory Scripture portrays Joshua as a faithful disciple, prepared to step into leadership when the time comes - a testimony to his character and unwavering devotion to God's mission.

SHORT STORY ON JOSHUA

One of the greatest challenges facing leaders is to replace themselves, training others to become leaders. Many outstanding accomplishments have been started by someone with great ability whose life or career ended before the vision became reality. The fulfillment of that dream then became the responsibility of that person's successor. Death is the ultimate deadline for leadership. One of the best tests of our leadership is our willingness and ability to train another for our position.

Moses made an excellent decision when he chose Joshua as his assistant. That choice was later confirmed by God himself when he instructed Moses to commission Joshua as his successor (Numbers 27:15-23). Joshua had played a key role in the exodus fron Egypt. Introduced as the field general of Israel's army, he was the only person allowed to accompany Moses partway up the mountain when Moses received the law. Joshua and Caleb were the only 2 among the 12 scouts to bring back an encouraging report after being sent into the Promised Land the first time. Other references show him to have been Moses' constant shadow. His basic training was living with Moses-experiencing firsthand what it meant to lead God's people. This was modeling at its best!

Who is your Moses? Who is your Joshua? You are part of the chain of God's ongoing work in the world. You are modeling yourself after others, and others are patterning their lives after you. How important is God to those you want to be like? Do those who are watching you see God reflected in every area of your life? Ask God to lead you to a trustworthy Moses. Ask him to make you a good Joshua.

*Strengths and accomplishments:*

* Moses assistant and successor

* One of only two adults who experienced Egyptian slavery and lived to enter the Promised Land

* Led the Israelites into their God-given homeland

* Brilliant military strategist

* Faithful to ask God's direction in the challenges he faced

*Lessons from his life:*

* Effective leadership is often the product of good preparation and encouragement

* The persons after whom we pattern ourselves will have a definite effect on us

* A person committed to God provides the best model for us

*Vital statistics:*

* Where: Egypt, the wilderness of Sinai, Canaan (the Promised Land)

* Occupations: Special assistant to Moses, warrior, leader

* Relative: Father: Nun

* Contemporaries: Moses, Caleb, Miriam, Aaron

Key verses:

"So Moses did as the LORD commanded. He presented Joshua to Eleazar the priest and the whole community. Moses laid his hands on him and commissioned him to lead the people, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses" (Numbers 27:22, 23).

Joshua is also mentioned in Exodus 17:9-14; 24:13; 32:17; 33:11; Numbers 11:28; 13-14; 26:65:27:18-23; 32:11, 12, 28; 34:17; Deuteronomy 1:38, 3:21, 28; 31:3, 7, 14, 23; 34:9; the book of Joshua, Judges 2:6-9; and 1 Kings 16:34.

Our DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS Stated that

1 The impartation of authority and the spirit of wisdom are pivotal for reaching leadership goals and fulfilling destiny.

2 Leadership and authority transit through impartation. The spirit of wisdom is associated with God's presence and guidance, enabling a leader to lead the people wisely.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Joshua 8:1

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Now the LORD said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.

*COMMENTS*

8:1 After Israel had been cleansed from Achan's sin, Joshua prepared to attack Ai again this time to win. Joshua had learned some lessons that we can follow: (1) Confess your sins when God reveals them to you (7:19-21); (2) when you fail, refocus on God, deal with the problem, and move on (7:22-25; 8:1). God wants the cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness to strengthen us, not weaken us. The lessons we learn from our failures should make us better able to handle the same situation the second time around. Because God is eager to give us cleansing, forgiveness, and strength, the only way to lose is to give up. We can tell what kind of people we are by what we do on the second and third attempts.

Our AIM: of this lesson is to analyse how Moses prepared Joshua for leadership and extract valuable lessons applicable to contemporary leadership development.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: Exodus 17:8-16; 33:11; Deuteronomy 31: 7-8,23; Joshua 1:10; 6:1ff; 24:29-3

The lesson for this week is titled, "Moses Prepares Joshua to Lead God's People." Moses played a pivotal role in guiding the Israelites through their journey from slavery in Egypt to the edge of the Promised Land. Alongside his own leadership competence, Moses also dedicated himself to prepare the next generation of leaders, particularly Joshua, to carry on the mantle of leadership after him. Through a mentorship that spanned years of trials and triumphs, Moses meticulously groomed Joshua, instilling in him the qualities and skills necessary to lead the Israelites into their destiny. This relationship between Moses and Joshua offers profound insights into the act of leadership development and succession planning, serving as a timeless blueprint for preparing future leaders in any context.

This lesson will explore the ways in which Moses prepared Joshua for leadership, examining the principles, strategies, how Joshua eventually led the people, and lessons that continue to resonate and inspire leaders to this day.

*LESSON OUTLINE*

*I. JOSHUA PREPARES FOR LEADERSHIP*

*II. JOSHUA LEADS GOD'S PEOPLE*

*LESSON EXPOSITION*

*I. JOSHUA PREPARES FOR LEADERSHIP (Exod. 17:8-16; 33:11; Deut. 31:7-8,23)*

And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek..." (Exod. 17:9).

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*COMMENT*

*17:8* The Amalekites were descendants of Amalek, a grandson of Esau. They were a fierce nomadic tribe that lived in the desert region of the Dead Sea. They made part of their livelihood by conducting frequent raids on other settlements and carrying off plundered goods. They killed for pleasure. One of the greatest insults in Israelite culture was to call someone "a friend of Amalek." When the Israelites entered the region, the warriors of Amalek saw this as a perfect opportunity for both pleasure and profit. But this hostile tribe was moving in on the wrong group- a people led by God. For the Israelite slaves to defeat such a chem warlike nation was more than enough proof that God was with them as he had promised to be.

*17:9* Here we meet Joshua for the first time. Later he would become the great leader who would bring God's people into the Promised Land. As a general of the Israelite army, he was gaining valuable experience for the greater battles to come.

a) 17:8-16: Joshua's close association with Moses, as his assistant and mentee, was crucial in his preparation for leadership (cf. 24:13). This provided Joshua with first-hand experience and experience in leadership and exposed him to Moses' ses' relationship with God (cf. 2 Kgs. 3:11).

b) During his time with Moses, Joshua faithfully obeyed God's commands, carrying out tasks with unwavering loyalty to both God and his leader-the base of his character and leadership style.

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Joshua faithfully served Moses and obeyed God without looking for personal gain (not greedy like Gehazi). As a potential successor are you faithful to God and your leader?

c) He honed his military skills battling tribes like the Amalekites and the Midianites during the wilderness wanderings (Exod. 17:8-16; Num. 31), preparing him for leading the conquest of Canaan.

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Moses prepared Joshua with the fear of God not like many leaders who never prepare potential successor, they always want every leader that comes after them to fail so that their followers can miss their presence. If you vacate your leadership position and people still prefer you to their new leader, you're the most failed leader. Your successor must also be able to do it the same way and even better than you. Remember Elijah and Elisha.

d) 33:11: His preparation also involved spiritual growth, spending time in God's presence even after Moses had left, deepening his faith and strengthening his relationship with JEHOVAH, crucial for his leadership role.

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33:11 God and Moses talked face to face in the Tent of Meet- ing, just as friends do. Why did Moses find such favor with God? It certainly was not because he was perfect, gifted, or powerful. Rather, it was because God chose Moses, and Moses in turn relied wholeheartedly on God's wisdom and direc- tion. Friendship with God was a true privilege for Moses, out of reach for the other Hebrews. But it is not out of reach for us today. Jesus called his disciples-and, by extension, all of his followers-his friends (John 15:15). He has called you to be his friend. Will you accept his invitation to openly communicate with him? He desires this kind of relationship with you.

*33:11* Joshua, Moses' aide, did not leave the Tent of Meeting, probably because he was guarding it. No doubt there were curious people who would have dared to go inside.

e) Deut. 31:23: God chose Joshua to succeed Moses. This affirms his calling and preparedness, and provides assurance of His presence and guidance in his leadership journey.

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31:23 Joshua had been appointed to take over the leadership of Israel and guide the people into the Promised Land (Moses could not enter the land due to his disobedience-Numbers 20:12). Joshua, first mentioned in Exodus 17:9, had been Moses' assistant for many years (Joshua 1:1). One of his key qualifications was his faith. As one of the 12 scouts to first enter Canaan, only he and Caleb believed that God could help Israel conquer the land (Numbers 13:1-14:30). Moses told Joshua to be strong and courageous twice in this chapter (31:7, 23). Indeed, this was a frightening task with three million people to care for, settle disputes for, and lead into battle. Finding courage would be Joshua's greatest test. He was strong and courageous because he knew God was with him and because he had faith that God would do all he had promised Israel.

f) vv. 7-8: Both God and Moses provided boost and confirmation of Joshua's leadership role: Moses publicly declared him as his successor and God promised to be with him as He was with Moses (Jos. 1:5).

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Most of leaders appoint their replacement not by God's leading but because they want to cover their secret and to become a godfather over the successor and the entire followers. I'm Moses case it was not so, he took his time to trained and appointed Joshua through God's leading and the fear of God. Let's learn from this.

g) Joshua's leadership preparation spanned years, marked by diverse experiences and interactions. This stresses the necessity of prior readiness for effective leadership (cf. 2 Kgs. 2:8, 13-14; Mk. 3:13-14; Jn. 14:12).

*II. JOSHUA LEADS GOD'S PEOPLE (Jos. 1:10; 6:1ff; 24:29-31)*

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying... (Jos. 1:10).

a) Joshua diligently sought and followed God's guidance through prayer, seeking counsel from the priestly ephod and obeying instructions from Moses.

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Joshua continue from where Moses stopped. He sought God before doing anything just like his Predecessor (Moses). Avoid pride and spirit of I can do it better in order to pull down the good work of your predecessor. If your predecessor created closer relationships with God follow same steps but if he doesn't please build a good relationship between yourself and God and don't try to condemned your predecessor before your followers! Why? You will also leave that position sooner or later, and what you do now will also be done to you.

b) He showed courage and resolve in leading military campaigns, successfully conquering Canaan despite facing formidable enemies like those in Jericho and Ai (Jos. 6-12).

c) 6:1ff: Joshua demonstrated strategic thinking by devising plans based on God's instructions, such as the unique strategy to conquer Jericho.

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6:1 The city of Jericho, built thousands of years before Joshua was born, was one of the oldest cities in the world. In some places it had fortified walls up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick. Soldiers standing guard on top of the walls could see for miles. Jericho was a symbol of military power and strength-the Canaanites considered it invisible.

Israel would attack this city first, and its destruction would put the fear of Israel into the heart of every person in Canaan. The Canaanites saw Israel's God as a nature god because he parted the Jordan and as a war god because he defeated Sihon and Og. But the Canaanites did not consider him a fortress god-one who could prevail against a walled city. The defeat of Jericho showed not only that Israel's God was superior to the Canaanite gods but also that he was invincible.

d) He promoted unity among the tribes of Israel, ensuring fairness in the distribution of land and rallying them together for common purposes, fostering cohesion in the nation (chaps. 13-21).

e) He provided spiritual guidance, strongly stressing obedience to God's laws and covenant, convening God's people to reaffirm their commitment to the Lord (chaps. 23-24).

f) 24:29-31: Joshua led by personal example. He demonstrated his commitment to God and obedience to His commands. His faithfulness and devotion inspired the Israelites to follow his leadership.

g) Remember, Joshua's leadership wasn't just about strategy and military victories; it was grounded in his unwavering faith and obedience to God's guidance; a man who had been well prepared.

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If you want to succeed as a spiritual leader don't believe in personal or human strategies always focus on God. Go to God not to man. Pray to God to get information/direction on how to lead the people of God.

It's a pity that most of leaders today always host the same programme, revival, seminars, same topic/theme he saw in someone's church without God's instructions. Such leaders are not spiritually capable because they are not depending on God. They are completely weak. God knows what His sheep need and how to feed them. If you go to Him He won't withhold the right information from you. God bless you.

*LESSONS DERIVED*

1. To become a leader, you must have been led and discipled.

2. Obedience to God's commands is of the essence when carrying out our leadership responsibilities.

*QUESTIONS*

1. Significantly discuss Joshua's preparation for leadership.

2. Highlight Joshua's leadership strategies when leading God's people.

Thank you for joining us today my prayer is that God will give us a retentive memories in Jesus name. Amen

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