Deuteronomy 31:23 (ESV)
And the LORD commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.”
In the end of Deuteronomy, Moses is dying. The entire book is the “second giving of the Law.” He is giving his final instructions for the people to obey the Law. He doesn’t have much faith in their obedience:
Deuteronomy 31:29 (ESV)
For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”
However, he does have faith in God and God’s approach to leading groups. God has placed Joshua alongside Moses for almost the entirety of the 40 years. Besides Moses, Joshua and Caleb are the only remaining people who came out of Egypt. Every single person who came out of Egypt by the powerful hand of God’s miracles is now dead. Those Moses is talking to are their children; hence the “second giving of the Law.” Although Moses does not have faith in the people, he can trust the man who shadowed him for almost 40 years. Joshua, in the above verse, is being “commissioned” by the Lord. The Hebrew word for “commissioned” is often translated “commanded” (over 500 times in the Old Testament). The Lord is “commanding” Joshua to now lead the people. He assures Joshua that He will be with him. God has put Joshua in a place of learning and now is putting him in a place leadership. God has been with him as the 2nd. Now God will be with him as the 1st. God never calls where He has not already equipped. This is God’s way throughout the Bible. The preparation of God and the presence of God is the only requirement needed to lead.
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