The
Bible also reveals what happens to a society, or at least to God’s gathering of
people, when one generation fails to transfer their passion and experience of
ministry to the succeeding generation.
Historic books like Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2
Chronicles are filled with the unfortunate accounts of the death of a godly
generation followed by “another generation” that grows up knowing neither the
Lord nor what God had done for Israel.[1]
But
there are several successful examples of leadership transference. For instance, at the right time,
Samuel, led by God, selected David as a key leader in the leadership succession
plans for Israel. Samuel’s
transference of David reveals several key principles to generational
transference:[2]
· The next generation was intentionally chosen and
given opportunity.[3]
· Successive generations exhibited formation of
character and relationship with God.[4]
· The younger generation sought to partner in mission
with the older generation.[5]
· Transference of leadership involved a relational
core.[6]
· Transference of leadership was for the sake of the
community.[7]
· The next generation was given high-level opportunity.[8]
[1] Joshua 22:27
[2] 1 Samuel 16:1-13. Peter Lyne (Lyne, Peter. Baton Change: The Next Generation. Tonbridge, UK: Sovereign World Ltd, 2000) suggests three principles derived
from the Samuel and David relationship: 1) David was anointed for the task (God
was with him), 2) There was a relational core at the heart of his team, 3) The
people gathered to his leadership.
Lyne, 54
[3] Though in David’s case the intentional
choosing came directly from God through Samuel.
[4] 1 Kings 11:4 bemoans the fact that
Solomon’s heart grew away from the Lord, whereas his father’s heart had been
“fully devoted to the Lord his God.”
[5] David worked hard to partner with Saul
in the mission of God, though Saul was inconsistent in his willingness to
partner with David. David was extremely
successful, however, in partnering with Jonathon. In many ways, though Jonathan was his peer by age and
friendship, Jonathan represented the former generation of leadership. In a dramatic symbol of succession,
Jonathan handed David the symbols of his authority that could be interpreted as
a sign of his desire for David to succeed in leadership. 1 Samuel 18:1-4
[6] Transference was enabled in many ways
through Samuel and Jonathan’s relationship of trust with David.
[7] David had God as his priority and
Israel’s benefit in mind as he took on leadership.
[8] God certainly entrusted David with the
responsibility of substantial directives and ministry initiatives.
[9] Lyne, 53

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