Perhaps one of the greatest changes in leadership took place after the death of Moses, as the keys to leading the Israelites was handed to Joshua.

Moses had led hundreds of thousands of the Israelites out of Egypt, some actually estimate greater than one million people. For 40 years, Moses and the people had seen miracle after miracle as they traveled the desert on their way to the promised land. The parting of the Red Sea, being led by a pillar of fire, manna and quail miraculously given for food, water from a rock, and on and on and on. However, despite the miracles, the people turned from God and were not allowed to enter the land. They refused to follow Moses and, more importantly, God.

However, if you rewind back to the beginning of the journey, there was a great follower of Moses and God among the Israelites.

Joshua was a teenager in Egypt when Moses led the people out of slavery. He was in the crowd, saw the plagues that God sent against Egypt, and he walked out of slavery with all of the Israelites. He was a young man, watching and learning the power of God. The first mention of Joshua is when Moses selects him to lead the Israelites in the battle against Amalek.

Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. Exodus 17:8-13

Moses apparently had noticed Joshua as a trusted follower, and this story is evidence, as we see “Joshua did as Moses told him.” Later, we see Joshua with Moses as he goes up Mount Sinai to talk to God.

So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. Exodus 24:13

More and more responsibility continued to come Joshua’s way. He was one of the twelve spies that Moses selected to check out the promised land before the Israelites entered. After the twelve returned from the mission, Joshua was one of only two of the men that trusted God enough to enter the promised land to take over the land. The other ten spies refused to enter due to fear of the people in the land, turning all the Israelites against Moses and God.

Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Numbers 14:5-10

In this scene, the Israelites were about to enter the promised land within weeks of leaving slavery in Egypt. The gift of the peace and land was before them, in striking distance. However, they refused to trust God and Moses. Joshua was in the middle of the people trying to persuade them to trust God and enter. He failed to persuade the people, and, along with all the Israelites, began a fruitless trip where they would wander the desert for forty years because of their lack of trust of God

Throughout this period, we continue to get glimpses of Joshua being a faithful follower of Moses, his right hand man. He is described a couple of times as being an “assistant” of Moses. He was positive, trustworthy, a rock among the Israelites who seemed to constantly challenge and betray Moses and God.

Now, in Joshua 1, forty years later, Joshua returns to the banks of the Jordan, with the promised land in sight. Only this time, Moses was not leading, as he had passed away. Joshua finds himself as the leader.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Joshua 1:1-2

And, after receiving instructions from God, we see the steadfastness of Joshua. The man who was once the model follower was now ready to become the great leader. There is no hesitation.

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’” Joshua 1:10-11

The greatest follower of Moses and his God was now the trusted leader of the Israelites. His trust in God was greater than any doubt or challenge in his life. His trust in God made him a great follower of Moses. His trust in God gave him courage, initiative, and humility.

On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life. Joshua 4:14

Notice who exalted Joshua. God, not himself. He was a humble leader.

Great followers make great leaders.

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