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.
(To access the entire “Lessons From Joshua” mini-series, please click here.)