This is a picture of orderly transition of leadership. God desires such order both as leadership passes from the hands of one leader to another and as leadership is extended through the appointment of assistants. Leadership must have continuity or the people will become restless and scattered. For this reason, God trains the successor and prepares him before the present leader leaves his position. Very often this training consists of active apprenticeship-that is, learning how to govern by working in close association with the present leadership. Leadership is not suddenly imported from outside but is nurtured from within the group to be governed.  

 God-appointed leadership is a necessity, not an option. 

“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:16, 17).  

 God’s  appointed leaders must be given public honor to insure the obedience of the people. 

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient” (Numbers 27:18-20).  

 The laying on of hands communicates both challenge and strength. 

“And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses (Numbers 27:23).  

“But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see (Deuteronomy 3:28).  

 Laying on of hands for appointment to service includes impartation of spiritual enabling. 

“And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him [Moses], and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease” (Numbers 11:25).