Approaching the West — Page 60
A pproaching the West—60 Under God’s instructions, before the conquest of Canaan started, Moses made Joshua his deputy, and announced his future leadership as God’s choice. As Moses had led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, Joshua would lead them into Canaan. Moses was 120 years old when he received revelation that his death was near, and was asked by God to appear in the tabernacle along with Joshua. The Old Testament describes the event as follows: The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourself in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may inaugurate him. ” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. Now the Lord appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 31:14-15). First, God revealed to Moses the future rebelliousness of Israel, their moral and spiritual decadence, apostasy, breach of the Covenant, and their continual idolatry that would result in arousing God’s wrath against them, and that God would forsake them (Deuteronomy 31:16-18). After that, The Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before the entire congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority to him, so that all the congregation of the