NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum.
Bible Passage: Numbers 27:12-23
Discussion Questions:
- What are some things you do that you were taught by someone else?
- What are some ways one generation typically passes along wisdom to the next generation?
- What are some ways we can publicly affirm God’s work in the next generation?
Food for Thought
“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” (Psalm 90:12). This principle may have been on Moses’ mind when God announced Moses’ impending death. Instead of complaining to God about the fact that he wouldn’t be allowed into the promised land, Moses spoke with God about the next leader of the nation. “Appoint a man over the community.” Moses issued a petition to God to install a new leader over the nation to shepherd the people.
This is the mark of a great leader: being more concerned about others than about self. That is also a mark of a great mentor. Mentors need to pass on wisdom and insight to others. There will also be a willingness to put aside personal needs and preferences to help another grow and develop. Our mentoring should certainly help others grow in their relationship with Christ.
Moses had done his due diligence in mentoring Joshua, who had served under Moses from the earliest days in the wilderness (Exodus 17:8-14).
Joshua had been the servant of Moses from the days of the exodus event. Joshua served as Israel’s general in the battle with the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-9). He accompanied Moses when Moses received the tablets of stone on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:12-13). He served as one of the 12 spies who went into the promised land to bring back a report on the land (Numbers 13–14). Joshua and Caleb were the only spies to express absolute trust in God’s power to give victory to Israel.
But Moses recognized it wasn’t his place to arbitrarily appoint Joshua as his successor. He would leave that to God’s directive. It was God’s assessment of Joshua that was essential. To God, the essential thing about Joshua was that he was “a man who has the Spirit in him.” In other words, Joshua was deeply committed to following God and His directions. God used Moses to mentor Joshua, who became a strong leader under God’s direction, and was a product of Moses’ mentorship.
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life connects the Bible to life for adults, students, and kids. Bible Studies for Life helps individuals and groups know God’s Word through trustworthy content, creates biblical community through engaging and conversational group studies, and helps people engage the culture missionally by unpacking what the Bible says about real-life issues. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife.
