Numbers 27:20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
God had greatly honored Moses. The loved him, most of the time. They were used to following him. God had made him big in their eyes when He used Moses to get them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea.
Now it was time for Moses to step down. God told him to take Joshua and share some of his honor with him. Joshua was already a proven man of God. God was using Joshua and the Spirit of God was at work in his life.
Now Moses will give him a charge in front of the people. The priests will be involved in giving him that honor. The goal is that the people will follow him.
When we ordain deacons, missionaries, and pastors that is something similar to what we are doing. We are recognizing that God is using them. We see God’s hand on them. We believe in them. We want God’s people to begin following and respecting them.
I would suggest to all of my missionary friends that you not jump over this with the men you will be training in the country of your calling!