Someone Will Eventually Replace Us

Note from today’s Bible reading: Numbers 27-30

After leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness, Moses was looking to the future. However, he had already been told that he would not lead the people into the promised land (Numbers 20:12). Someone else would have to fill his role in leading the people.

So Moses asked God to “appoint a man over the congregation…who will lead them…so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:16-17). God told Moses to take Joshua and “put some of [his] authority on him” (Numbers 27:18-20) so that he could be his successor.

Whatever role we have today, at some point, we will no longer be around to fulfill the responsibilities we currently have. We need to recognize this and work to equip those who will come after us to continue our work.

This is true in every area of life, but it is especially important regarding spiritual matters. Fathers are to teach their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Paul told Timothy to teach the next generation in the church so that they could teach the generation that would come after them (2 Timothy 2:2). This cycle needs to continue, but it will not happen if we refuse to do the work of equipping those who will come after us.

So remember that someone will eventually replace us. Our lives are only temporary, yet the work of the Lord must continue after we are gone. Let us do what we can to prepare others to carry out the Lord’s work in the future.