LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JOHN W. RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
A Biblical Model of Leadership Transition
CLED 700
A Paper Submitted to
the Faculty of the School of Divinity
in Candidacy for the Degree of
Doctor of Ministry Department of Christian Leadership and Church Ministries
By
Henry Edwin Shikuku
Lynchburg, Virginia
10/2022
A Biblical Model of Leadership Transition
Succession planning and preserving continuity of leadership are both evident in the most
extensive biblical record of leadership transition — the account of the transition from Moses to
Joshua. Several key principles emerge when this leadership transition is studied.
Moses and Joshua model shared leadership.
Knowing how God had revealed Godself to him and used him, Moses seemed to have
embraced a One Leader–Many Followers paradigm, a leadership paradigm in which all
meaningful leadership is built around a central leader. That is understandable. He was the
catalyst for miracles that led to the stunning release of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.
That all changed when he got a visit from his father-in-law, Jethro, who asked “What is this that
you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from
morning until evening? … What you are doing is not good.” Moses likely had a relatively close
relationship with Jethro. He listened to Jethro’s advice. He began to share meaningful
leadership with others, appointing judges to resolve the vast majority of Israel’s issues. (Exodus
18:18–26) While Moses did not abdicate his role as Israel’s leader, he gave many others
opportunities to lead.
Two outstanding leaders that Moses identified and trusted as leaders were Caleb and
Joshua. Joshua led a militia group to fight the Amalekites. Moses took Joshua with him for at
least a portion of his first ascent to and descent from Mount Sinai. Moses chose Joshua and
Caleb as two of the twelve men who scouted out the land of Canaan. In short, Moses came to
understand the need to intentionally elevate others to take on visible leadership roles that
supplemented his leadership role. Moses exchanged the One Leader–Many Followers paradigm
for a commitment to identify and develop many leaders and share leadership in a meaningful
way. When it was time for Moses to hand off his leadership role in Israel, Joshua emerged from
among many proven leaders of Israel.
The leadership transition from Moses to Joshua was planned.
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all of Israel, “Be strong and
bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to
their ancestors to give them, and you will put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes
before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
(Deuteronomy 31:78)
Moses clearly felt that he had a God-given responsibility to identify the leader who would
take his place. Though there were other effective leaders in the nation of Israel, Moses
“summoned” Joshua. There is a critical question that every leader must ask — “Am I
responsible for what happens after I leave my leadership role?” Moses would have answered
that question in the affirmative. He could not guarantee what would happen to the nation of
Israel after his death, but he could make sure that the people were left with a proven, effective
leader.
Moses was transparent and empowered Joshua.
The leadership transition was transparent. The people of Israel were not left in the dark
about who would lead them when Moses was gone. For years, Moses had empowered Joshua
with leadership opportunities in the nation of Israel. His clear and unwavering support for
Joshua paved the way for Joshua’s success in leading Israel into the promised land of Canaan.
The appointment of Joshua by Moses was done “in the sight of all of Israel.” (v.7). Joshua did
not have to convince Israel after Moses was gone that he had been chosen in private by Moses.
Those most affected by the leadership transition were eyewitnesses as Moses commissioned
Joshua as their next leader.
Moses paved the way for Joshua.
Moses paved the way for Joshua’s future leadership role by providing him with highly
visible leadership opportunities. By the time Joshua was commissioned as the leader of the
nation of Israel, he was already established as a credible and respected leader. According to
Haubert and Clinton, “Joshua’s ongoing association with Moses at a mentoring level did at least
two things. First, it promoted Joshua’s development. Through tandem training Joshua was
inculcating skills, attitudes, and values needed for top level leadership. Second, it prepared the
people for Joshua’s installation. Whenever they saw Moses, Joshua was not far away. This gave
Joshua credibility and created a positive perception of his status.” Moses also paved the way for
Joshua by making sure that the leadership transition was simple, straightforward, and very
public.
The leadership transition from Moses to Joshua was seamless.
The leadership transition was seamless. This was a deliberate choice on the part of Moses,
who chose Joshua to take over the leadership of Israel in a transition that would involve no gap
in time between the leaders. Joshua’s leadership began the moment Moses’ leadership ended.
Moses clearly believed that a seamless leadership transition was God’s will and in the best
interests of God’s people.
Moses and Joshua model humility.
The clear and unwavering support that Moses showed for Joshua certainly required
humility on the part of Moses. But this critical leadership virtue of humility was not just
demonstrated by Moses, it was also demonstrated by Joshua. Joshua showed clear and
unwavering support and respect for Moses. Joshua looked to the future by building on and
honoring the past. Given that Moses and Joshua both modeled humility in how they honored
one another, it is no wonder that the people of Israel who loved and respected Moses showed
the same love and respect for Joshua.
There are many insights that can be drawn from the biblical record of their leadership
transition, including the timeless virtues of sharing leadership, paving the way, and modeling
humility that they demonstrated — virtues that can be instructive to leaders in transition today.
