In Exodus chapter seventeen, verse nine, Moses speaks to Joshua to choose men to go out to fight against Amalek. Joshua is the man chosen to succeed as leader of Israel is first mentioned. Appropriately enough, he will take over the duties of Moses when God says it’s time and would later go up against Caanan, but his duties are now a military role. Verse eight of the same chapter begins with “Then came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim,” which indicates the Israelites have encountered the Amalekites before.
Joshua, the son of Nun, who was his minister, and was a man of war from his youth, trained up in the art of war, was captain of the armies of Israel, fought at the head of them, and subdued the Canaanites. Moses knew he was a fit person for the present purpose and therefore gave him the orders. They would have to go out at a certain distance to fight against the Amalekites to keep the women and children out of arm’s way. Amalek was the aggressor, and Israel was on the defensive part. However, some might wonder where the Israelites get the weapons to fight against the Amalekites? The answer could be when the Egyptian army drowned in the Red sea and whose bodies came upon the shore. They might have furnished them with a large quantity of armor which they may have stripped them off and arrayed themselves.
Joshua, the man chosen, which means “the Lord saves, or “Yahweh is Savior,” was preparing for his later wars against the Canaanites. God, through Moses, knew who the next leader for the Israelites was to lead them eventually for the future tasks ahead. The only thing left to complete this was for Moses to proceed with it and for Joshua to accept.
Today the current leader will, at some point, eventually have to pass on the duties to the new candidate. However, it might seem clear who the new leader might be, but the challenge could be the feedback or criticism that might come along with it. However, the public is unable to see what the current leader knows that the new candidate possesses. Similar to God, who knows what He has in His people. The public does not see it, but the Lord sees it in us.