Passing The Torch

Have you ever sat down and thought about the fact that one day you won’t be here anymore? As a believer, I am looking forward to the day that I graduate this life. But I am also a little nervous, because I often wonder if I have done the job I was tasked with as a father and as a pastor. Part of leading well is leading with the person who is going to take your place in mind. We are all one moment from no longer being here. In today’s text, we see God preparing Moses and the nation of Israel for what is to come next. Numbers 27:22-23 says, “So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.”

In today’s Bible reading, we read both Numbers chapter 20, and then the last half of Numbers 27. Both of these chapters are about passing the torch. Moses and Aaron are getting ready to die, and there are going to be new people rising to take their place. Joshua is going to be called to lead the nation of Israel, and Eleazar is going to be the new priest in Aaron’s place. Israel was about to undergo some major changes, yet the most important aspect of their life wasn’t ever going to change. This is the joy and hope of parents and churches, as long as we raise our children and lead the church to know and follow the Lord, He will always be with them. While the physical leaders of the nation were about to change, their ultimate leader, the Lord, will never change. This is why it is so vital as parents and/or church leaders, that we teach those under our care to lean on and look to Jesus. A lot of times, as a parent, we want to raise strong, independent children. In reality, what we need to raise are children who are wholly dependent upon the Lord, and not us.

This text is a reminder that one day we will no longer be here. The Lord is going to appoint someone to take our place, because as Pastor Matt Chandler says, “The man goes into the ground, but the mission goes on.” It is important that we are parents teach and train our children to know how to depend upon the Lord. It’s important as church leaders that we pray about who will be raised up to take our place, and to train them while we can. Don’t wait until you are at the end of your life to care about those who will come after you. Invest in them now, teach them now for the moment that you will no longer be here. That’s a great retirement investment strategy!

By His grace and for His glory,

Pastor Justin