In Numbers, chapter twenty-seven, verse eighteen, “Spirit” here refers to the Holy Spirit. Among Joshua’s many qualifications for leadership, the greatest is that he was spirit-led. As a man who was anointed and proven himself open to being led by the Spirit of the Lord, he was predominantly qualified to be commissioned and invested with authority for leading the people.
The Lord told Moses to take Joshua, who had been a servant of his nearly forty years and of whose humility, diligence, faithfulness, and integrity he had sufficient proof, as well as of his skill and courage in military affairs, particularly at the battle with Amalek. A man in whom the spirit is not only in whom is a soul, which is in every man but the Spirit of God. Not only as a spirit of grace and sanctification in every good man but as a spirit of prophecy. Instead, it respects the more than ordinary gifts of the Spirit qualifying him for government, such as courage and conduct, wisdom, prudence, and greatness of mind. God instructs Moses to lay his hand upon Joshua and transfer the government to him. By pointing Joshua out to the people as Moses’ successor to show the children of Israel that he was in his place: upon which follows the best measure of the gifts of the Spirit of God.
Envious spirits do not love their successors, but Moses was not one of these. All believers should concern themselves, in prayers and endeavors, for the rising generation so that the Word of God may be maintained and advanced. God appoints a successor, even Joshua, who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in witnessing against the report of the evil spies. A good man who honors God, hate covetousness, fit to do the work and discharge the trusts of his place.