DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- ANOINTING FOR MINISTRY

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – ANOINTING FOR MINISTRY

"On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life."  (Joshua 4:14)

Joshua was a great leader, but he was prepared by forty years of training as an aide to Moses.  Moses had chosen Joshua to be his successor.  Joshua had distinguished himself as a leader. He had proven himself as a military leader soon after the exodus from Egypt as he led a victorious campaign against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-13).  He was also a man of faith.  He was only one of two men – he and Caleb – who survived the forty years in the wilderness to enter the promised land (see Joshua 5:4) because they had been the only two spies who had searched out the land and returned to give a report of faith to trust God (Number 13 and 14:1-9).  So Joshua became an assistant to Moses (Numbers 11:28), accompanying him even to Moses' journey to Mt Sinai to receive the commandments from God (Exodus 24:13).  

Joshua's position as leader was not just because he was a great man.  It was because God had called him and anointed him to lead the nation.  "Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, 'Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.'  And the LORD said to Moses:  'Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;  set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight.' "  (Numbers 27:19)

When we see people who are leaders in Christ's Church, we need to understand that their position is not just because of their personal abilities or preparation, but because God has raised them up.  History is filled with great men who have had powerful influence in Jesus' Kingdom – Luther, Moody, Wesley, Edwards, and Billy Graham among others.  God raises people up and anoints them to ministry, not because they are so great but because God is great.   Thank God for spiritual leaders.  We need them now more than ever.  

Love,  Dad