I wonder sometimes is Moses was so focused on God and his calling that he missed the people around him. In today’s passage we are told Joshua was there at the tent of meeting when Moses was meeting with God. Joshua even stayed late when Moses left. 33:11 “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.” The impression is that Joshua was longing to hear God as well and to be a good disciple. And yet in the next verse Moses was asking God who He would send with him. I wonder if God wanted to say, “He is right there under your nose. Look around.”
12″Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.”
Are we like Moses? Who have we overlooked when God is saying I have sent you who and what you need. God may have set someone in your field of influence to train to take your place one day. Look to see who has a heart for God. Open your eyes to anyone who is walking the same path but just a few steps behind. Then pour into them. Give them opportunities to serve and grow. Teach them when the opportunities are given to sharpen their skills. Take them along with you to see how you do your job.
Joshua was already a leader in training even though Moses did not acknowledge him as such. God has leaders in training around all of us as well. May God open our eyes and we seize the opportunity to pour into tomorrow’s leaders.