Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”

So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of t’he Urim before the LORD. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.”

And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the LORD directed through Moses.

I saw this passage as I read through it and let it soak in, as an example of the LORD, God, the Almighty and Moses working as a team through the Holy Spirit to ensure that Moses' successor is properly prepared and equipped for his responsibilities. I do catch a sense of the teamwork between Moses and the LORD. So important that we listen to His direction.

I am unclear whether the ‘laying on of hands’ was an action by Moses or by Eleazar. It is an important of the “Change of Command” ceremony, but I do not distinctly remember it being part of the installation of a new pastor. My sense is that if it is significant, it should be observed. A question to be prayerfully addressed.

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Reading

Morning Psalm 109 Noon Psalm 119:17-24 , Evening Psalm 40 , If you follow this regimen, you will pray through the Psalms every 47 days or just under 8 times per year.

An alternate Reading Plan is based on 7 chapters/day from 7 sections of the Scriptures. My groupings are: Genesis-Joshua, Judges to Esther, Job to Song of Solomon, Psalms breaking 119 into convenient sets, Isaiah to Malachi, Matthew to Acts, Romans to Revelation. This plan, over a several year period will result in an average reading of the entire Bible in slightly over twice per year. I've been following this plan since 1989 and still find the mixture of Scriptures presented each day to be a delightful way to end my day. The NLB app has a scheduling tool that assists greatly in keeping track of the reading list.

Or set your own reading schedule up in convenient groupings as fits your study habits. But a daily time in the Word of the LORD is an absolute.

Suggested Supplementary Reading

The Christian’s Creed: Embracing the Apostolic Faith by Dr. Stanley D. Gale. There is also a workbook available.