A New Leader for a New Generation The opening words of the book are both solemn and hopeful. "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun..." (Joshua 1:1) For forty years Moses had led Israel through the wilderness. He had stood before Pharaoh, received the Law at Sinai, and shepherded God's people despite their repeated failures. Now Moses was gone. But God had a replacement lined up.