It’s time to lead. Be strong and courageous.
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When you hear the word “leader,” what face or name comes to mind? An entrepreneur or CEO? A pastor? A coach? A general? Let me add one more entry to that list: you.
Do you think of yourself as a leader? You are. You may not lead a business, a church, a team, or a military unit, but you’re still called to lead. A husband becomes a leader when he says, “I do.” Parents become leaders as soon as their baby is born. Employees who have responsibility for others are leaders in the workplace. Church members are leaders when they serve guests in the parking lots, teach children and students, or serve on the financial team.
So what’s your blueprint for leading?
We have a great model of leadership in Joshua, the man called by God to move His people from wandering in the wilderness to conquering their own land. Throughout the Book of Joshua, God has given us a blueprint on how to be godly and effective leaders. So let’s explore leadership from God’s Word.
Think of the leadership role God has given you. Picture in your mind the faces of the people you lead and influence. Open your heart to what God can do by His power through available servants and leaders like you. Let’s walk through this door together and be changed into the leaders God desires.
Our first lesson in this series from Joshua is to Accept Your Leadership Role!
Accept Your
Leadership Role
Here's the Setting
God had used Moses to lead His people for a lengthy and eventful time—from enslavement in Egypt, through the 10 plagues, out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the wilderness. This was no small task, sometimes because of external challenges but frequently because the people did not want to be led. Yet Moses remained faithful; and while he was by no means perfect, he modeled what it means to be a leader who submits himself to the Lord's authority and direction. Moses had been at the helm through the giving of the Law, the survey of the Promised Land, and the construction of the tabernacle. But now Moses' time was past. He would not be permitted to lead the new generation of God's children into the promised land. A new leader was appointed for this new day. Joshua was God's choice to fill Moses' shoes. I'm sure that Joshua wondered if he was ready for such an awesome task.
God had used Moses to lead His people for a lengthy and eventful time—from enslavement in Egypt, through the 10 plagues, out of Egypt, across the Red Sea, and for 40 years in the wilderness. This was no small task, sometimes because of external challenges but frequently because the people did not want to be led. Yet Moses remained faithful; and while he was by no means perfect, he modeled what it means to be a leader who submits himself to the Lord's authority and direction. Moses had been at the helm through the giving of the Law, the survey of the Promised Land, and the construction of the tabernacle. But now Moses' time was past. He would not be permitted to lead the new generation of God's children into the promised land. A new leader was appointed for this new day. Joshua was God's choice to fill Moses' shoes. I'm sure that Joshua wondered if he was ready for such an awesome task.
When have you wondered, “Am I ready for this?”
The point of our lesson this week is this:
“As you lead, submit to God’s authority and direction.”
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
When I think of stress, the image that comes to mind is General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the eve of D-Day, about to send thousands of troops across the English Channel into the teeth of the German army. He’d planned and prepared, but uncertainty lay ahead. In fact, Eisenhower was so uncertain about the success of D-Day that he drafted a statement taking full blame should the mission fail.
You and I don’t carry that kind of stress, nor do we bear that level of responsibility. Yet there are days when the weight on our shoulders feels heavier than ever—maybe even heavier than we can bear.
These are the moments when we must lead well.
Joshua was another leader standing on the banks of a body of water with enemies waiting on the other side. He was full of questions about the role he’d been given, anxious to make the right decisions. From this “D-Day” long ago, we can learn much that will help us lead well in our own roles.
When I think of stress, the image that comes to mind is General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the eve of D-Day, about to send thousands of troops across the English Channel into the teeth of the German army. He’d planned and prepared, but uncertainty lay ahead. In fact, Eisenhower was so uncertain about the success of D-Day that he drafted a statement taking full blame should the mission fail.
You and I don’t carry that kind of stress, nor do we bear that level of responsibility. Yet there are days when the weight on our shoulders feels heavier than ever—maybe even heavier than we can bear.
These are the moments when we must lead well.
Joshua was another leader standing on the banks of a body of water with enemies waiting on the other side. He was full of questions about the role he’d been given, anxious to make the right decisions. From this “D-Day” long ago, we can learn much that will help us lead well in our own roles.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Meditate (v. 8)—The Hebrew term also appears in Psalm 1:2. The modern idea of rehearsing something through repetition captures the meaning of the term perfectly.
Prosperous (v. 8)—This term does not relate to making money, but rather to accomplishing God’s directives and goals for us as revealed in His Word.
Success (v. 8)—This word is similar to “prosperous” but emphasizes developing the ability to see and to do things God’s way, resulting in a God honoring lifestyle.
Joshua 1:1-9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Meditate (v. 8)—The Hebrew term also appears in Psalm 1:2. The modern idea of rehearsing something through repetition captures the meaning of the term perfectly.
Prosperous (v. 8)—This term does not relate to making money, but rather to accomplishing God’s directives and goals for us as revealed in His Word.
Success (v. 8)—This word is similar to “prosperous” but emphasizes developing the ability to see and to do things God’s way, resulting in a God honoring lifestyle.
Accept Your
Leadership Role
I. God Calls Leaders - Joshua 1:1-6
Do you see yourself as a leader? You are. Everybody leads in some capacity. Even if your influence only touches the life of one other person—adult, student, or child—that is leadership! That’s why the Book of Joshua is for you. Its encouraging message is that God is in control, even as we stand on the banks of our most difficult leadership challenges.
The moment described at the beginning of Joshua 1 must have been nerve-wracking for Joshua himself. Yet, with the benefit of history, we can see that God was completely in control:
Whenever I drive, I want to be one or two turns ahead in my thinking. If my wife is giving me directions, I’ll ask: “But what’s ahead? What’s the next turn?” If I’m using a GPS, I’ll scroll forward to be prepared.
Many of us approach leadership in the same way. We want to know what’s coming—every potential challenge—so we’ll be prepared. But God is ultimately in control. He desires that we trust Him for what lies ahead. He’ll reveal what we need in His perfect timing and according to His perfect plan.
God has already worked in you, He’s working in others, and He’s ready to work in the challenges ahead.
Do you see yourself as a leader? You are. Everybody leads in some capacity. Even if your influence only touches the life of one other person—adult, student, or child—that is leadership! That’s why the Book of Joshua is for you. Its encouraging message is that God is in control, even as we stand on the banks of our most difficult leadership challenges.
The moment described at the beginning of Joshua 1 must have been nerve-wracking for Joshua himself. Yet, with the benefit of history, we can see that God was completely in control:
- God had engineered every moment in Joshua’s life up to this point. Joshua had witnessed God rescue His people from Egypt in a supernatural way and miraculously meet their needs in the wilderness for 40 years.
- God had engineered the circumstances of the people Joshua led. God had been faithful to the promises He made to the patriarchs hundreds of years earlier: “And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God” (Gen. 17:8; also see 26:4; 35:11-12).
- God was ready to engineer the circumstances ahead. God mapped out the steps ahead for Joshua and the people regarding the land they were to inherit. As for enemies who would threaten them on the way, God reminded Joshua that none can stand against His purposes; therefore, Joshua need only trust God and obey His commands.
Whenever I drive, I want to be one or two turns ahead in my thinking. If my wife is giving me directions, I’ll ask: “But what’s ahead? What’s the next turn?” If I’m using a GPS, I’ll scroll forward to be prepared.
Many of us approach leadership in the same way. We want to know what’s coming—every potential challenge—so we’ll be prepared. But God is ultimately in control. He desires that we trust Him for what lies ahead. He’ll reveal what we need in His perfect timing and according to His perfect plan.
God has already worked in you, He’s working in others, and He’s ready to work in the challenges ahead.
Where in your past can you see evidence of God’s faithfulness?
Complete the activity below:
Complete the activity below:
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you." —1 P E T E R 5:6
Point # 1: Joshua's strength and courage had to be found in God alone.
II. God Equips Leaders with His Word - Joshua 1:7-8
When God spoke to Joshua on the eve of moving into the land, He reminded Joshua that it was His law, His revealed words, that would guide Joshua while carrying out his leadership role. So, how was Joshua to stay centered on God’s “book of instruction”? How are we? The answer comes in verse 8.
First, God told Joshua to “meditate on” the Scriptures. Second, God told him to engage the Scriptures on a regular and consistent basis—“day and night.” Third, God told him to meditate on His Word so that he may carefully observe everything written in it. In other words, the goal of Joshua’s meditation was to produce a diligent response in his everyday behavior.
Performing these actions helped equip Joshua for leadership. Even more, God promised that obeying the Scriptures would enable Joshua to prosper and succeed in his mission. This wasn’t a guarantee that Joshua would become rich or famous. Instead, it was a promise that God would be with him—that Joshua would accomplish the goals God had set before him.
We can claim the same promise, as well, when we build our lives on the foundation of God’s Word.
This is good news, because we all lead others in some capacity. With the Scriptures as our guide, we can stay rightly focused on—and wisely carry out—our responsibilities toward their proper end.
What does God mean when He says to meditate?
- Meditate (v. 8)—The Hebrew term also appears in Psalm 1:2. The modern idea of rehearsing something through repetition captures the meaning of the term perfectly.
- Let’s be clear about this idea of meditation. The purpose of reciting and meditating on Scripture is to clear your mind of your own thoughts and desires. This is not the same as the practice of “emptying your mind” encouraged by many Eastern philosophies. Biblical meditation and recitation means you center your thoughts on what God has said and then declare it verbally so that you can remember it and obey it.
- Have you ever gotten a song in your head and you couldn’t get it out? Especially a song that you don’t like? No matter what you do you can’t get that song out of your head. Wouldn’t it be great if that thing that got stuck in our heads was God’s word? Pleasant, Encouraging, Strengthens, Keeps us from sin. Reading His word is good! Memorizing His word is fantastic! But we also need to meditate on God’s word.
What does God mean when He says you will be prosperous?
- Prosperous (v. 8)—This term does not relate to making money, but rather to accomplishing God’s directives and goals for us as revealed in His Word.
What does God mean when He says you will be successful?
- Success (v. 8)—This word is similar to “prosperous” but emphasizes developing the ability to see and to do things God’s way, resulting in a God honoring lifestyle.
What obstacles hinder us from making the most of God’s Word in our lives?
Point # 2: Joshua's life needed to be grounded in the Word of God.
III. God Equips Leaders with His Presence - Joshua 1:9
In verse 5, God comforted Joshua with the promise that He would be with him and would not leave or forsake him. God then added in verse 9 that He would be with Joshua wherever he went. As a result, Joshua didn’t have to be afraid or discouraged. In fact, God commanded him three times to be strong and courageous (vv. 6-7,9).
Fear and discouragement are natural feelings, but they can be overcome through the supernatural presence of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, be strong and courageous:
1. When you consider the great task in front of you. God knows you sometimes feel overwhelmed when you consider your different responsibilities as a leader. But none of those responsibilities are too big for Him to handle, and He is with you.
2. So you can respond diligently to the Word of God. The Scriptures will call you to step outside of your comfort zones in order to act wisely, demonstrate integrity, and focus on the greater good of those you lead. That’s not always popular, yet if you are to prosper and succeed in your leadership, you must do so biblically—and that often takes courage.
3. As you move forward. Sometimes you feel ready to charge ahead. Other times you feel like folding up the tent, overcome by fears or discouragement. This is when you need to hold onto the comforting promise: “the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (v. 9).
What does it look like for a believer to be strong and courageous in today’s culture?
In what area of your life do you need to step up and lead?
LIVE IT OUT
Everybody leads in some capacity—everybody. So how will you apply the truths from this passage to your own life and leadership?
- Acknowledge your role. Spend several minutes writing down the different areas of life in which you lead others or influence people. Own your role as a leader.
- Memorize. Recite Joshua 1:8 each day until you know it by heart. Allow its truth to strengthen and encourage you.
- Make connections. Connect with others who lead in the same places and in the same ways as you. Be intentional about giving and receiving support as you engage with others.
“Am I ready for this?” It’s okay to ask that question. We all feel overwhelmed at one time or another. Yet you don’t have to be overwhelmed. You don’t have to worry, either. God is in control and He is with you. Therefore, be strong and courageous.
Remember, how we lead becomes a reflection of our relationship with Christ and a testimony to the depth of our personal commitment and dependence on God.
PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
Lord, thank You for calling and entrusting me the opportunity to lead others. But I know I can only do well when I am obedient to Your instructions and reliant on Your unfailing presence and power. I depend on You; may You be able to depend on me. Amen
Hope that you have had a blessed week and that you are looking forward to this new series study on Everyday Leadership From Joshua.
See you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
