Lessons From Joshua, Part 1:
The Mark of a Good Leader
The book of Joshua is rich in lessons for our day and
age, and the upcoming 18 lessons, appearing in the Nugget on Saturday
evenings, will be focusing on practical tips from this book that can help us
in our walk with the Lord. This first lesson looks specifically at the man
after whom this book was named, Joshua himself …
Leaders in our day and age are often chosen for their merit, by their track
record, or by who they know. But what is the mark of a truly great leader?
Joshua, the son of Nun, was appointed by Moses to succeed him as leader of
Israel. Anyone in a position of leadership has unique challenges, but I
think that Joshua's challenge was even harder than most, because whenever
someone follows in the steps of a great leader, they usually pale in
comparison to their predecessor! Joshua's biggest challenge was to try and
fill Moses' shoes!
The Bible records, however, that Joshua had no trouble doing so. In fact, it
is recorded on the day Israel crossed the Jordan River: "That day the
Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the
days of his life, just as they had revered Moses." (Josh 4:14 NIV)
If Joshua was able to rise up and take the place of the great leader, Moses,
then his leadership skills can be an example for us today.
Let's take a look at what leadership skills Joshua has to teach us:
1. Obedience: After the crossing of the Jordan River, Joshua had the people
eating out of the palms of his hands. He could have done anything he wanted
and he would have had the full support of the people, but Joshua refused to
take advantage of the situation. Instead, he was completely obedient to the
instruction his former leader had given Him. In fact, the book of Joshua
makes five specific references to Joshua doing things just "as Moses had
directed" (Josh 4:10,12, 8:31,33, 11:12)
2. Humility: When the land was finally at peace, Joshua divided the land
among the tribes, the Bible records that "When they had finished dividing
the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun
an inheritance among them …Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim."
(Josh 19:49-50 NIV). Joshua received an inheritance, not because he set
aside a piece of land for himself, but because the people gave it to him. He
could have had anything, but he humbly chose a town in the hills, and that
only with the insistence of the people.
3. Submission: One more thing of note in the long life of Joshua is that
throughout all his years, Joshua was submissive to God. From the day he
followed the Lord's command in crossing the Jordan, celebrating the
Passover, and attacking Jericho, to the day when he was old and advanced in
years, Joshua's message to the people was the same: Stay true to God!
Just before his death, Joshua summonsed the people together: "Be very
strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of
Moses," he wrote, "without turning aside to the right or to the left … But
you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now." (Josh
23:6-8 NIV).
He then ended his address with the following famous challenge: "Then
choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your
forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose
land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the
Lord." (Josh 24:15 NIV)
Did Joshua's obedience, humility and submission have an impact on the people
of Israel?
It most certainly did!
"Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the
elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done
for Israel." (Josh 24:31 NIV)
In summary, Joshua was a great leader. But not because he was strong or
clever. He was a great leader because of his humble, obedient, and
submissive spirit.
If you find yourself in a leadership position, why not follow Joshua's
example? Be humble, obedient, and submissive to God, and with these three
Joshua-demonstrated traits, you are destined to be considered among the
greatest leaders of all time!
Join us next week for LESSONS FROM JOSHUA, Part 2: Our Rest
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two
teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet
newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian
devotionals and inspirational poems,
www.scripturalnuggets.org,
with Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org.