Introduction
One of the hallmarks of great leadership is the ability to successfully replicate leadership skills in others. This is particularly true in training one’s future replacement. Sadly, those in ministry leadership often neglect actively seeking and training a successor for their role. For reasons that range from fear to low self-confidence to complacency, ministers oftentimes see planned ministry transition as negative and even unspiritual (Weese and Crabtree 2004, 14). The Scriptures are not silent on this issue. The characters and stories of the Bible model both positive and destructive leadership succession. There are numerous examples of strong men-of-faith training leaders to succeed them. In the Old Testament, Moses and Joshua as well as Elijah and Elisha are standard-bearers of successful leadership transitions. In the New Testament, Jesus provides us with an example of one to whom ministry is transitioned and then later of one who transitions ministry to others. A thoughtful, well-planned ministry succession plan can be both biblical and energizing to Christian organizations.
Moses and Joshua
In the Old Testament, Moses is seen as the quintessential leader. He is revered by Jews and Christians alike for leading the people of God out of Egypt and preparing them to enter the Land of Promise. Moses’ calling, training, and leadership provided a prototype for the biblical leaders that would follow him. While his life and leadership skills were not without disappointment, his deep connection with God provided a sense of balance and direction as God fulfilled His promise to the patriarch Abraham through the nation of Israel. Moses’ leadership lasted a mere forty-year period and because of his disobedience to God, he was not chosen to lead the people into the land of promise. It is in fact Moses’ death, and the choosing of Joshua, his successor, that marks the beginning of the fulfillment of the Israelite destiny. “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel (Josh 1: 1-2, [NASB]).
While Moses began his leadership career with the nation of Israel lacking self-confidence and claiming the inability to speak God’s words of judgment to Pharaoh, he died with the affirmation of God. His leadership abilities are encapsulated in the final three verses of Deuteronomy:
Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel (Deut 34: 10-12).
Even though Moses quite possibly was saddened by God’s refusal to allow him to enter the Promised Land, he was certainly affirmed by God’s words that there had never been another leader like Moses.
Before Moses’ death, God had a plan of leadership succession for the nation of Israel. The plan had its genesis in the Exodus account of the Israelites at Mount Sinai. They spoke to Moses “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die” (20: 19). Moses recalls this statement in one of his final discourses to the Israelites…”The Lord your God will raise up from you a prophet like me…This is according to all you asked the Lord your God at Horeb [Sinai]” (Deut 18: 15-16). God chose Joshua, son of Nun to succeed Moses as the leader for the Israelites.
Joshua had been with Moses since the Israelites fled Egypt and entered the wilderness. He was one of two spies who entered the Promised Land and returned with a favorable report. He was with Moses throughout the forty-years of the desert wanderings. Joshua eventually led the people to the Promised Land achieving military, organizational and political success along the way. While Moses was one of the greatest leaders in historical Judaism, it was Joshua who God chose to lead His people into their promised destiny.
The succession of leadership from Moses to Joshua was planned and well organized. While the Scriptures are not explicit in exactly what these men of faith knew about their ultimate role, it is clear Moses felt the need to prepare Joshua for a future leadership role. The battle with Amalek in Exodus 17 begins the training of Joshua as a military leader. Moses commands him to choose his warriors and defeat the enemy. After the battle is won, God speaks to Moses “Write this in a book as a memorial and recite it to Joshua” (17:14). Later as Moses climbed to the top of Mount Sinai (24:12) and spoke to God at the tent of meeting (33: 8-11), Joshua was at his side. It is through these events that Joshua was being immersed in the spiritual tenets of leadership. As Moses passed the baton of leadership to Joshua, he did so before the entire congregation of Israel. Numbers 27: 18 states:
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; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.
This visible proclamation of Joshua as the new leader-in-waiting was essential to the eventual journey into the Promised Land.
Elijah and Elisha
A second example of leadership transition is found in the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. While Moses was chosen to proclaim the Law to the Children of Israel; Elijah, a prophet during a turbulent time of Israel’s history, was called to defend it. Elijah existed during the reign of the Kings of Israel and provided prophetic leadership at a time when many people were turning their hearts toward pagan rituals and gods. That Elijah was an important part of God’s plan is an understatement. He showed the people God’s power through miraculous signs and wonders, pronounced judgment upon unruly royalty, and anointed new kings in both Israel and Syria. Like Moses, Elijah was not without his share of short-comings. However, his life illustrates the hope of the faithful who persevere in their calling. As he was nearing the end of his ministry, the Bible indicates that he was “caught up” in a chariot to heaven and never died.
Elijah’s successor, Elisha, was chosen as he was out plowing with twelve yolk of oxen (1 Kings 19: 19). The biblical narrative of Elijah and Elisha makes it clear that God orchestrated this leadership succession. It is also clear that God wanted a time where Elisha would learn from Elijah and eventually continue the prophetic work. The Scriptures indicate that Elisha became the attendant or servant of Elisha during this time of transition (19: 21). The legacy of Elisha’s humble service to Elijah is communicated in II Kings 3: 11. King Jehoshaphat was seeking a word from the Lord and asked “‘Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?’ And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
The transition of leadership from Elijah to Elisha is one of the most unique events in the Old Testament. The biblical account states:
And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here please, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel’ But Elisha said, ‘As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel (II Kings 2: 1-2).
Later Elijah offers to commit some act of service for Elisha before he is taken up. When asked what he would like, Elisha replies “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (2:9). This desire reflects a genuine servant relationship and is the ultimate expression of Elisha’s desire to follow and serve Elijah (Patterson 2005, 2). Elisha mourned in his traditional custom, tearing his clothes in grief, when the Lord finally took Elijah in the whirlwind.
John the Baptist, Jesus and The Disciples
In the New Testament, the proclamation of the gospel is transitioned to Jesus by John the Baptist. While John was initially unsure about who the Messiah actually was, it became very clear to him that Jesus would be taking his place in ministry. John boldly proclaimed to the hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees his expectancy that he would be succeeded by one greater than himself: “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals…” (Matt 3: 11). While the transition from John to Jesus was not as lengthy as that of Moses to Joshua or Elijah to Elisha there are some particularly salient features of this transition that are applicable to Christian leadership.
Jesus’ ministry took on a very different character than that of John the Baptist. In fact, his ministry was so different that John at one point was prompted to send messengers to Jesus to ask if He really was the Messiah. Jesus nonetheless was very affirming to John personally as well as to the work he had done: “Among those born of women, there has not arisen anyone greater than John…” (Matt 11:11); “For John came to show you the way of righteousness…” (Matt 21:32). In these statements, Jesus expressed His love and respect for the divine purpose John had played. When a ministry is working through a transition process it is very helpful to affirm the pervious leader (Weese and Crabtree 2004, 16).The death of John was difficult for Jesus. The Bible indicates that when He heard of John’s death, He withdrew away to be to Himself.
As the Son of God, Jesus began His ministry career fully knowledgeable about His time-frame for training His successors. While the twelve disciples He eventually chose would not have been considered prodigious leaders, they would eventually cause the world to be transformed by the message Jesus taught. Jesus used most every moment to teach His disciples and desired them to produce long term results (Weese and Crabtree 2004, 16). “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go bear fruit –fruit that will last” (John 15: 16 NIV). “Jesus understood John the Baptist’s role as preparatory to His work…Jesus [also] understood His own work as preparatory to that of His disciples” (Weese and Crabtree 2004, 20). Jesus was the transitioning link between the ministry of John the Baptist and the missionary efforts of His own disciples.
Conclusion
There is a pattern of God-ordained leadership transition in the Scriptures. Planned leadership succession is biblical and necessary to the health of the local church body and the body of Christ at-large. While many leaders see the necessity of training and developing new people for ministry leadership there has been a failure by many to train their eventual replacement. Career transitions, retirement and death are events that are often overlooked because of a lack of motivation to deal with issues that reflect human mortality. According to Weese and Crabtree, when strong pastoral leaders are faced with their eventual transition, many of them simply stop leading (Weese and Crabtree 2004, 20). Examining the context of many of the relationships in Scripture yields an abundance of information on succession, yet it is one of the least discussed topics in pastoral ministry. The biblical accounts of transition from Moses to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha, John to Jesus, and Jesus to His disciples provide a crucial model of leadership succession to those in ministry today.
