Like a masterfully executed relay race, the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua stands as one of history’s most significant passings of the baton. Moses, having led God’s people through the wilderness for forty years, carefully prepared Joshua for the decisive moment when he would take the lead. The baton of leadership, weighted with the responsibilities of guiding over two million Israelites, was transferred with divine precision and purpose.

Joshua grabbed this baton with both faith and fortitude. Where many might have stumbled under the pressure of succeeding such a legendary leader as Moses, Joshua found his stride by keeping his eyes fixed on God’s promises. His leadership style demonstrated that the race wasn’t about filling Moses’ sandals, but about running his own God-ordained course with excellence.

The walls of Jericho became his first major hurdle, where Joshua proved that unconventional divine strategies trump human wisdom. His courage to follow God’s battle plan – marching around walls instead of attacking them – showed that true leadership means trusting God’s playbook over tactical human reasoning.

Just as a relay runner must maintain momentum, Joshua’s consistent obedience and dedication to God’s law inspired the Israelites to remain faithful for an entire generation. His timeless declaration, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” became the victory lap that defined his legacy.

This particular verse has long been a favorite of Anita and me; it’s depicted on our front door above. We brought it from GA almost 30 years ago, and should we ever leave this home, it will go with us.