Deuteronomy 31:7
“And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.”
Imagine trying to be the next president after George Washington. After all he did for America, it would be hard to fill his shoes. The comparisons of how he led could have easily been frustrating for the next president. Following a great person cannot be easy for anyone.
Joshua was just about ready to follow a man whom God used in a great way. There is no doubt that Joshua had fears of following Moses. Maybe that is why God constantly said, “Be strong and of a good courage…” Joshua was about to take the position that Moses had filled for over forty years. Joshua knew what God had done through Moses, and he fully understood he could not be a Moses. If anyone ever filled the position rightly after following someone great, it was Joshua.
Everyone will follow someone at some point in their life. You will follow your parents when you get your own family. A pastor will take over a church and will follow another man of God. CEO’s will take over a position that another person held. Following someone is not easy, but doing it in a right manner is important to what God will do through you. Let me give you several observations that will help when following someone.
First, realize you will never fill their shoes. God didn’t expect Joshua to be Moses, He expected Joshua to be Joshua. You cannot fill the shoes of someone before you. If you try to fill someone’s shoes, you will set yourself up for failure and discouragement. Realize that God doesn’t expect you to be anyone else other than yourself. You need to be who God wants you to be.
Second, don’t tear down the previous person to establish yourself. One of the greatest things about Joshua is that he did not try to minimize Moses. Many people try to belittle those before them so that they will be great in the eyes of their followers. Always realize that you are training someone else who will follow you. If you don’t want someone to belittle what you have done, then don’t belittle what others before you have done. Instead of belittling others, encourage people to admire them for what they have done.
Third, build upon your predecessors. Don’t try to change what your predecessors have done, but build upon it. Let your predecessors works be the foundation upon which you build. Don’t change what has been done so you can build a name for yourself.
Fourth, understand that God has great works for you to do. This is very important that you understand. Joshua did not know there would be a Jordan River or the walls of Jericho when he took over. He only knew that he was to bring Israel into the Promised Land. God has great works for you to do. Instead of trying to tear down those before you, do what God wants you to do and you will discover that God will work greatly through you.
Fifth, keep your focus upon God. Don’t try to build a name for yourself. Joshua fully understood that he was serving the LORD, and that kept him from becoming jealous of Moses. If you will realize that you are serving God, it won’t bother you to hear someone talk of a predecessor whom God has used greatly. When your focus is upon God, you will not make yourself the focus.
Friend, we all have a great work to do for God. Don’t tear down the works of the previous generations to make yourself look great. Yield yourself to the Holy Spirit and let Him work through you. Always keep in mind that it is never about you, but it will always be about God and pointing others to Him.