APPOINTED BY THE DISAPPOINTED

The seriousness of your spirituality and the impact of your life are demonstrated primarily through the person you have chosen and trained to continue and expand what you have accomplished in your lifetime.
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”

Deut 34:1 Now Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, 2 and all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, 3 and the Negev and the plain in the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there." 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but no man knows his burial place to this day. 7 Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated. 8 So the sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. 9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. NASB

Verse 9 is as powerful as any verse can get. “9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.” Moses is dead. But, his impact continues even after he died. A man took over his task of leading the people. His work did not stop at his death. Spirituality does not die when we die. Impact does not end when we leave this world. The secret really is to see to that there is someone who has acquired the spirituality to continue what you have been doing.

Moses may have died as a disappointed man but his disappointment did not negatively affect the work of God. His death did not erase his impact. Somebody was there. Joshua was the person appointed (assigned) and anointed (officially inducted into) to be the successor of Moses. Was Joshua qualified? He was. What was Joshua like? He was “full of wisdom.” The people of Israel listened to him and obeyed him. What was Joshua’s secret?

The text says that Moses LAID HIS HANDS on him. The laying on of hands accomplished the following: 1. Joshua was officially designated to carry on the work of Moses. 2. It was the instrument used in imparting to him divine wisdom. Moses died but he was still alive through the leadership of Joshua. Moses trained someone who was to replace him. He did not approach his death without seeing to it that somebody was there to take over his task.

Are you preparing someone to carry on the vision that God has given you? Are you imparting to and sharing with someone your visions, dreams and ministry skills? Spirituality cannot die with us. Someone must take our place. Who is your Joshua? Who is your Timothy? It would be a sign of weakness of you become productive in your life but does not train someone to continue what God has given you as a task. Moses may have been disappointed but he appointed someone to take his place. He was a very wise man.