None Like Moses

Introduction

If you had an older sibling who was especially good at something, like school, then you know what it is like to live in the shadow of someone. Hearing things from teachers like “you aren’t like your brother are you?” or “I’m sure you will be fine; your sister didn’t seem to have any trouble” or “your sister was a big success; you have a lot to live up to” goes a long way toward bringing up feelings of inadequacy.

We are spending the next couple of weeks completing our series on transitions. We have seen already that God wants unity, not division, and division over preachers is especially displeasing. After all, the focus is on God, not on preachers. We have also seen that what transforms God’s people is God’s love—his sacrificial, selfless, and giving love demonstrated to us in Jesus. Such love changes us so that we can love in the same way. We want to be a place where such love is known, experienced, and practiced. We have invited the Gaines to experience and to share in this kind of love.

We continue today with looking at the transition that occurred between Moses and Joshua. Let me be clear: I am not trying to compare Dwight or myself to Moses and Steven to Joshua. What I am trying to do today is to look at the process of transition and the promises of God which gave Joshua and his people confidence. In our text today, I cannot imagine how difficult the transition was for Joshua, the one who will lead Israel after Moses. But God’s promises sustained and encouraged him.

Big Shoes

The end of Deuteronomy 34 was obviously written by someone besides Moses. Before his death, Moses had laid his hands on Joshua, passing on the Spirit of wisdom. Much like the disciples passed on the Spirit’s power through the laying on of hands, God enabled Moses to do the same with Joshua. This resulted in the people being ready to listen to Joshua and to follow him. But verses 10–12 serve as Moses’ epitaph, and it is quite the summation.

The epitaph lists what God did through Moses. No prophet like Moses ever arose in Israel. He was known by God face to face. He performed miracles by the power of God. God revealed his power through him in Egypt, the greatest nation on earth at the time. There was no one like Moses.

The epitaph stresses what God did through Moses and what God knew about Moses, not what Moses knew about God. It stresses that God was not only the power-giver and sustainer but that their relationship was noted for its intimacy. There was great sadness for Moses at his death. Joshua had been handpicked years before. There was no doubt about succession and who God was going to speak through. But what there was uncertainty. Joshua was no Moses. There was none like Moses ever and wouldn’t be another Moses for a long time.

When you read the first verse of Joshua 1, we know that this is a continuation. Moses is even mentioned first in the new writing. Joshua starts his own writing and the Holy Spirit has him mention Moses first. This isn’t fair. He can’t even start with Joshua becoming the leader of Israel! And on top of that, notice how Moses and Joshua are identified. Moses is called “the Servant of the Lord.” Joshua is called “Moses’ aide.” Joshua is still being identified in relation to Moses. How unfair.

But like Moses, Joshua receives his orders from God. Look at verse 5: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God’s words to Joshua must have encouraged him. These words must have created a sense of confidence and certainty for Joshua. Then in verses 6–9, three times God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous—words spoken to a man who was perhaps not sure, words spoken to bolster confidence, words spoken with the intent to kick-start Joshua’s actions. Did the words have any effect? Look at verse 10: Joshua ordered the officers of the people. Looks like he got the message.

Transitions

The principles associated with the transition between Moses and Joshua need to be appreciated. Transitions threaten our security. Most of the time, transitions—even well-planned ones—leave participants uncertain about the future. We find ourselves comfortable with what has been, and with a transition, uncertain and lacking confidence. Not all transitions are God-led or ordained. But we believe the transition we are experiencing at Park Avenue is from God. The elders have prayed about this transition beginning in 2006. Every man that we have talked to since then, we have prayed specifically that God would derail the process if he wasn’t the right one. And of the men we have spoken to over the years, God has answered our prayers. Just as God told Joshua that he was with him, we have sought God’s assurance about the transition, and we believe he has led this process. Transitions may threaten our confidence and security, but God still calls out that we are to be strong and courageous as we move forward.

Transitions encourage comparisons. We have no indication from our texts that anyone compared Joshua and Moses or said “Joshua is no Moses.” What we do have is the text identifying Joshua as the son of his father and in Moses’ shadow. The intent is to show continuity, but it also reveals how respected Moses is. But make no mistake: in time, Joshua became respected because of his own leadership and his closeness to God. Notice in 24:29, at the end of Joshua’s life, a phrase is used about him: “After these things, Joshua, son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten.” No mention of Moses, and instead the use of the same phrase which was used to describe the closeness of Moses with God—servant of the Lord. This phrase is not used often in scripture but is used of Moses, Abraham, David, Joshua, and Isaiah’s servant writings in prediction of the Messiah. Not bad company. Joshua eventually was appreciated and respected for his faithfulness.

Dwight and I have lived among you long enough for you to know us and our hearts. Steven will spend his time among us, and we will come to know him and his heart as well. And in time, he will demonstrate that he is a man who wants to serve God.

There will be no need for comparisons, for in time Steven will be appreciated for his talents and strengths just as you have done with Dwight and me over the years.

Let us be strong and courageous as we anticipate the Gaines’ arrival and as we continue our journey of faith.

---

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.