Joshua Replaces Moses

Joshua 1:1-9

What prepares someone to be a leader is a great question. In the passage for this lesson Joshua is chosen to take Moses’s place as the leader of Israel and lead them into the promised land. This choice was not made randomly or just by chance. If we look at the life of Joshua before he became the leader of Israel, there are some things that show us his preparations for becoming the leader of God’s chosen people.

Things Joshua did that prepared him to lead:

1)  Followed commands (Exodus 17:8-17)

• In Israel’s first battle after leaving Egypt, Joshua was chosen to lead the people while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill.
• One of the first lesson’s we see concerning Joshua is that he can follow directions, a person can never lead if they cannot follow.
• “I cannot consent to place in the control of others, one who cannot control himself” Robert E. Lee

2)  He was with Moses on the Mount (Exodus 32:1-18)

• Joshua was on the mount with Moses therefore he was not involved in the sin concerning worship of the Golden calf.
• Being in church and around the right kind of people will keep you out of a lot of trouble (Proverbs 22:24-25).

3)  He was a faithful spy (Numbers 13:1-33)

• When the spies were sent in to search out the land Joshua and Caleb were the only two who believed God and trusted that he would give them the land.
• Trusting God will be a huge part of your life, so it is good to learn it while you are young.

These things along with knowing and doing God’s word is what made Joshua a success. This is the only place in the Bible where the word success appears. Note that success is a result of being strong, courageous, and doing God’s word.

Joshua Replaces Moses : Handout

Joshua 1:1-9

1)   Who was chosen to replace Moses as the leader of Israel after his death?

2)  What are three things in the life of Joshua that prepared him to be a leader?

3)  What is the key to success?