SUCCESSION PLAN 2
18 AND 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;
19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight.
20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.”
22 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation.
23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses."
Numbers 27:18-23 (NKJV)
Moses did pray for a successor that was why God told him to appoint or choose Joshua (Numbers 27:15-21). This shows us that If he, Moses, did not ask for it, God might not have said anything on it. Because, at Joshua's time, when to be departed this planet earth, he did not ask for it and there was no one appointed to be the next leader of the whole nation of Israel (Joshua 24:22-29; Judges 17:6; 21:25). The result of this lack of central government led to the emergence of several unqualified people emerging as the national leader; such found themselves in the leadership position through one circumstance or another, they were circumstantial leaders—not prepared for the position.
In the new testament, there is a pattern given in the Book of first Timothy 3 for whoever wants to be an overseer or an elder or a pastor and likewise the pattern for the appointment of a Deacon (1 Timothy 3:1-13). A similar thing is found in the Book of Titus 1 verse 5 to 9 as well. What is shared in the Bible passages mentioned here should be a pattern and standard for any new testament church or ministry.
As a pioneer or founder of a ministry or church, the people of God should not be left without a shepherd. Planning this does not mean you are wishing yourself death, but it is a sane, lawful and logical thing to do, since no one knows what would happen tomorrow, only God knows (James 4:13,14). Thus, in the case of your absence, Who would lead the people of God? Not only in the incident of death, but there might be a need to be reassigned by God to another place for another phase of your assignment or work, If such happened suddenly and there was no succession plan in place; It means any available person at the time would be chosen or appointed and such might not be the right or most suitable person for the work:
14 THESE THINGS I WRITE TO YOU, THOUGH I HOPE TO COME TO YOU SHORTLY; 15 BUT IF I AM DELAYED, I WRITE SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN THE HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 3:14,15 NKJV).
Peace.