Launching Leaders

Reading of the Day: Numbers 25-27

Numbers 27:17: Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

As parents, we take our children by the hands & bring them forward along with us. We show them the world & how to live in it according to God's Word. As we walk, they may linger behind, all the while our hands are still holding on...but there will be a time that we not only raise children, we launch leaders! One day, they will no longer walk behind us...they will go in front of us! Moses realized this need when The Lord told him it was almost time for his journey to go from this life to the next. Moses asked God to set a man over the congregation in Numbers 27:16, and that man is described in Numbers 27:17 above. Moses had grown to love this people. He stood in the gap for this people many times. He did not want the next generation to wander around like a sheep with no shepherd. So, God told Moses to choose Joshua in Numbers 27:18. Joshua wasn't Moses' biological child, but he was definitely someone who had been close to Moses and trained & prepared by just watching everything unfold. He was a spy who gave a good report. He was strong in battle. He was not one who gave himself over to idols. He was raised by following behind, and now it was time to launch him to lead! It is hard to remember that our job as parents is not just to be satisfied by caring for the current needs of our children, but to remind them that they are growing into their life's purpose. We must help them grow in character as much as we help them grow in their physical health. They will have a role someday. They will have others counting on them. It is important to not only communicate this importance, but exemplify it as Moses did to Joshua. Our words as parents say a lot, but our actions say more! Let's allow this Word to build our character so that we can better build the character of our children. Let's raise them right so we can launch them to lead in Jesus' Name!