The Law of Timing: Joshua Begins with a Divine Call and Charge
Consider this: It took 40 years for Joshua’s leadership style to match the need of the moment. Moses led diplomatically. He sat and judged the people patiently as they grumbled through long years in the desert. By the time the Israelites reached Canaan, fierce enemies awaited them—and they needed a much more confrontational leader, a military man skilled in war. Enter Joshua. Note the differences between Moses and Joshua and see how timing can dictate appropriate leadership styles:
Moses | Joshua |
1. Led through 40 years of desert travel | 1. Led through 30 years of conquering Canaan |
2. Was a political, diplomatic leader | 2. Was a military, in-your-face leader |
3. Patiently listened to complaints | 3. Confronted laziness and fear of the enemy |
4. Led people as a peacemaking shepherd | 4. Led people as a tough commander |
5. Provided water from a rock when the people got thirsty | 5. Told the people to dig their own wells when they got thirsty |
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The Law of Influence: God Uses Rahab
The story of Rahab proves that God will use anybody. This woman worked as a prostitute in Jericho as the Israelites approached the city. Although the Hebrew spies needed someone to help them scope out the best approach to conquering the city, there seemed little logical reason why Rahab should have been considered for the role:
1. She occupied no position and held no official title in the city.
2. The Israelites looked upon women as lower-class citizens.
3. As a prostitute, she held an even lower social rank than the average woman.
But because leadership depends less on titles than it does on influence, God chose Rahab. She helped the spies by her quick wisdom, gutsy style, and clever plan. By doing so she saved not only her own life, but aided in accomplishing the purposes of God in Jericho. The name “Rahab” even occupies an honored place in the Hall of Faith (Heb 11:31).
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Rahab: An Unusual Woman of Faith
God uses individuals of all temperaments and backgrounds to accomplish his purposes—even prostitutes.
God strategically positioned Rahab, whom the Bible calls a “prostitute” (Jos 2:1), in a home built into the wall of Jericho. When two Hebrew spies came to her for aid, she displayed a clear understanding of spiritual issues. She described how the dread of Israel had overwhelmed her people. She acknowledged that the land belonged to the Israelites and therefore willingly risked her life to hide Joshua’s spies (2:4–11). Rahab leveraged her hospitality on behalf of her parents, siblings, and their extended families, begging the spies to spare the lives of all who belonged to her (2:12–13). They agreed.
Rahab was a woman of her word. Although she could have tipped off her king to the whereabouts of the hiding Israelites, she sent Israel’s enemies on a wild goose chase. Why? Because she really believed that God was about to hand her city over to the Hebrews. Even prostitutes can exhibit saving faith (Heb 11:31).
Wise leaders remember that God sees the human heart; while many would never trust a woman with a personal history like that of Rahab, God selected her. Because Rahab faithfully served God, her family lived and was adopted into Hebrew society—and she became an ancestor of the Lord Jesus himself (Mt 1:5).
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Communication: Joshua Gives Handles to Remember God’s Work
Effective leaders look for ways to use the successes of today to empower their people for the challenges of tomorrow. Joshua did exactly that.
Although God would work a miracle to allow the people to cross the Jordan on dry ground, Joshua knew that only those who saw the incident would remember it—and he wanted to leave a legacy for the next generation, born long after the miracle occurred. Joshua wanted to find a way to communicate God’s greatness to the children of Israel yet-to-be-born.
To accomplish his goal, Joshua devised a plan called “Stones of Remembrance.” He directed that 12 stones be taken from the middle of the dry riverbed—one for each of the 12 tribes who crossed the river—and be piled in a monument on shore. Thereafter, whenever Israel’s children or grandchildren asked, “What do those stones mean?” the people would have an opportunity to recast God’s vision and recount God’s victories. The stones served as “handles” to communicate what God had done.
Good leaders always provide “handles” to enable their people to grab hold of the vision. Effective leaders find a way to communicate future vision and past victories, because their people need to be constantly reminded of both.
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Joshua: A Leader’s Obedience Sets the Pace
Look at every phase of Joshua’s life, and you see a man who gave himself wholeheartedly to completing whatever task was assigned to him.
The first time Joshua appears in Scripture, we see him immediately obeying the instruction of Moses (Ex 17:9–10). Thereafter Joshua took on the role of Moses’ assistant. Joshua again displayed his obedience when he agreed to spy out the promised land. Upon his return from the reconnaissance mission, he and Caleb, alone among the spies, were ready to obey God and enter Canaan. Forty years later when Moses handed the reins of power to his protégé, Joshua again obeyed the call (Jos 1:5–11).
In the end, the people of Israel followed Joshua’s example and did what God asked of them—and as a result inherited the land God had promised. Scripture says that “Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua” (Jos 24:31). When the people followed Joshua’s lifelong example of obedience, they prospered.
By the time of his death, Joshua was known simply as “the servant of the LORD” (Jdg 2:7–8). That is high praise! While today we consider Joshua an exceptional leader, nowhere does Scripture describe him as a man of extraordinary might, intellect, or talent. What made him extraordinary was his obedience. And when you’re a servant of the Lord, that’s all you really need.
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Joshua Practices the Law of Victory
Perhaps the most memorable of Joshua’s many victories came in the destruction of Jericho. But what a strange story it is!
Try to picture how absurd God’s military strategy must have seemed to real men of war. March around Jericho 13 times in one week, blow some trumpets—and that’s it? No weapons? No fighting? No plan of attack? No doubt, the residents of Jericho laughed heartily at the weeklong entertainment provided by the dizzy Hebrew army circling their walls.
Yet Joshua was committed to doing whatever it took to gain victory, and if God said shout, then the general would discard his swords and spears and wholeheartedly go with the absurd. Consider 10 things to really like about Joshua:
1. He made obedience his first priority.
2. He never waited to see what the crowd wanted to do.
3. He made decisions from an eternal perspective, not a temporary one.
4. He acted decisively.
5. He deeply appreciated the past without worshiping it.
6. He valued results more than image and reputation.
7. He knew that to influence others, he had to stand up and be counted.
8. He never wavered from his understanding of what was right.
9. He trusted his God more than his gift.
10. He made glorifying God his ultimate objective.
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Achan: The Ripple Effect of Sin
Things had been going so well. And then, suddenly—this!
After an incredible victory over Jericho, an Israelite foot soldier named Achan chose to disobey some clear directives regarding treasures captured in war. Joshua told his men that all the spoils taken from Jericho were to be considered “devoted things,” belonging in God’s treasury. Achan defied Joshua’s orders, taking some valuables and hiding them under his family’s tent.
Joshua, unaware of Achan’s sin, sent a small contingent of soldiers against Ai—and the confident Israelites suffered a major rout. Joshua immediately recognized that something must be very wrong. He sought God’s face for answers and eventually identified Achan as the culprit. In an act of severe judgment, the guilty man, his entire family, their livestock and possessions were all destroyed. By this fearsome act, Joshua determined to follow God and to remove those who would stand in the way of God’s work.
The story of Achan illustrates the principle that leaders may become vulnerable following a major success. Although it can be very difficult, leaders must take the appropriate steps to remove those who block God’s blessing and work. When a team member like Achan compromises a core value, the ripple effect of his or her action can hurt many others. Godly leaders must stop the ripple before it becomes a flood.
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Convictions: Leaders Don’t Allow Compromise to Dilute the Cause
A little city with a short name caused huge problems for the Israelites.
Spies sent out to check out the village of Ai considered it an easy target; its defeat would not even require the whole army, they said. How wrong they were! The contingent dispatched against Ai quickly retreated after suffering frightening losses. What could have happened?
Joshua soon discovered that sin in his camp had caused the debacle. One of his soldiers, Achan, had kept for himself some of the spoils of war, despite God’s prohibition against doing so. After a short time of confusion, Joshua dealt decisively with Achan, executing him at the command of God. Joshua would not and could not allow compromise to derail the destiny of his people. Due to his courage and convictions, the next time Israel launched an attack on Ai, the tiny city with the short name presented little problem.
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The Law of Navigation: Joshua Balances Faith and Planning
When does human planning get in the way of trusting God for results? Or conversely, when does faith become presumption, expecting God to do for us what we must grab hold of ourselves? All Christian leaders must learn the proper balance between divine faith and human preparation.
Joshua demonstrates a beautiful balance as he prepares a second attack on the city of Ai. He begins by asking the Lord whether his army should attack, and if so, when. God ordered the attack and instructed Joshua to set an ambush, but gave no further details. Joshua planned the particulars of the campaign, each step under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He divided his troops into two divisions and told one to stage an attack on the city. The other group was to wait in ambush until the men of Ai came out. As the men of Ai chased their attackers, the ambush could close in and allow the Israelites to set the city afire. The plan worked perfectly. When the men of Ai saw the smoke rising above their homes, they lost heart and quickly fell in battle to Israel.
Do you see the synthesis of divine guidance and human strategy? Joshua placed his faith in God for the results, but did not hesitate to lay wise plans and execute them.
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When Israel negotiated with the Gibeonites and ignored God’s order to destroy the city, they allowed compromise to jeopardize their mission. While negotiation is not wrong in itself, leaders must never negotiate their convictions, direct orders, or core values. When we start negotiating these, we compromise our mission.
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The Law of the Picture: Joshua’s Integrity with the Gibeonites
Joshua compromised his leadership when he made a treaty with the Gibeonites, but once he made a covenant with them, he knew it was his duty to defend them. Integrity means that you keep your oath “even when it hurts” regardless of the cost (see Ps 15:4).
Why is this so vital? It all comes down to the Law of the Picture.
1. People do what people see. If Joshua failed in his integrity, it would haunt him later.
2. People follow if they trust. If Joshua failed in his integrity, few would trust him later.
3. People return what they’ve received. Joshua was more likely to receive loyalty from the Gibeonites if he demonstrated loyalty to them when it was costly to do so.
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Joshua and the Law of the Big Mo
Not only did Joshua lack momentum at the beginning of his campaign; he actually faced several barriers to it. Consider his precarious situation:
1. Israel had just lost its founding leader.
2. Joshua had to follow this hero and revered leader.
3. The Israelites had not realized their dream in 40 years.
4. In front of Israel stood a flooding river and countless walled cities.
So what can a leader without momentum do? The answer: Learn from Joshua.
1. Emphasize that moving forward simply reflects obedience to God.
2. Speak of past conquests under God’s direction.
3. Get the people to quickly put some “wins” under their belt.
4. Underscore your own faith in what God has promised.
5. Model courage for everyone.
6. Erect memorials to recall God’s pattern of faithfulness.
By chapter 10, Joshua is enjoying the Law of the Big Mo. Israel won victory after victory—and each one made the next one easier to visualize and embrace.
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COMPETENCE | Joshua Got the Job Done
COMPETENCE RARELY happens overnight. Even the great Joshua had to be prepared over many years to handle the enormous task given him. By the time he died, competence could have been his middle name. Consider this:
1. God used Joshua over two generations.
2. God trusted Joshua to lead the military campaigns from the wilderness into Canaan.
3. God called Joshua to spy out the promised land.
4. God allowed Joshua to accompany Moses up Mount Sinai.
5. God replaced Moses with Joshua when it came time to lead the people into Canaan.
Ponder the effort God invested in this young leader to make him competent:
1. He was a warrior (Ex 17:9–11). Joshua was born to be a warrior. His first opportunity at leadership came as a military leader. God was preparing him for a much larger role, but it all began here.
2. He was a spokesman (Ex 17:14). Joshua received a prophetic word from the Lord concerning his lifetime ministry, illustrating how God works in each of us. First, we receive a personal word from the Lord; then we become bearers of his word to others.
3. He was a servant (Ex 24:13). Joshua was first known as Moses’ “aide.” No one called him a servant of Yahweh until the time of the conquest. He proved his willingness to serve before asking anyone to serve him. Each of us must undergo the same process.
4. He was a faithful coworker (Ex 32:17). Moses took Joshua with him to meet with God on Mount Sinai, but when ordered to stop, Joshua halted halfway up. He experienced no glory, no cloud, no voice, and no presence, yet he remained faithful to the big picture.
5. He was an apprentice of Moses and God (Ex 33:11). For 40 years, Joshua served as an understudy. His competence grew from Moses’ tutoring and his own observations. He would not leave Moses’ tent because he wanted to get everything he could from his mentor.
6. He was a zealot (Nu 11:29). One day when God’s presence came down upon the camp and two men began to prophesy, Joshua grew concerned. He forbade them to continue, but Moses said to him, “I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets.” Joshua’s passion later became an asset as it combined with experience.
7. He was a transformed leader (Nu 13:16). Moses gave the name Joshua to the young man formerly called Hoshea. With that name change came a transformation in identity and character. Joshua became a man ready to delegate, organize, and lead the nation of Israel.
• • • • •
For a negative example of competence, turn to 21 Qualities: Competence: A Necessary Step on the Road to Excellence.
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Confidence and Decisiveness: Joshua Distributes the Land
The time came when Joshua finally felt ready to divide the land God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years earlier. His leadership faced a crucial test when he saw that he needed to exhort the hesitant Jews to occupy their land. “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” he scolded the faltering tribes (Jos 18:3).
Joshua’s courage left an unmistakable mark on the hearts of his countrymen and reminded them that they were to fulfill the expectations of God. Notice how Joshua led the people in his later years, when decisiveness became especially crucial:
1. Evaluation (13:1—14:5). Joshua developed a clear picture of the land remaining to be conquered.
2. Imitation (14:6–15). Joshua blessed Caleb and pointed to him as a model of attitude and determination.
3. Communication (15:1—17:18). Joshua clearly articulated the boundaries of each tribe’s land and what they needed to do.
4. Exhortation (18:1–4). Joshua challenged the tribes of Israel to take the land God had promised them.
5. Investigation (18:4–10). Joshua appointed teams to survey the scope of the remaining land and report back to him.
6. Determination (18:11—19:51). Once he received the commissioned report, Joshua determined who should get what land.
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Caleb: God Uses Leaders Regardless of Age or Ability
If you led an army working to conquer hostile territory, and you needed to defeat a community of giants, whom would you send to do the job? Probably not an 85-year-old man—yet that’s exactly who topped Joshua’s list. Why?
Because that man was Caleb.
Scripture does not indicate that Caleb was a great warrior. But it clearly shows he possessed great faith and passion, qualities that serve leaders today as well as they did in Joshua’s day. Author and professor J. Robert Clinton has observed that while effective pastors and church leaders across the nation possess a wide variety of gifts and abilities, almost all of them possess the gift of faith.
Caleb teaches us that leadership has less to do with age than it does with attitude. It’s not a matter of position, but of disposition. Growing older does not have to mean growing ineffective. With the power of God and the confidence of Caleb, we can overcome even giants.
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The entire Old Testament proclaims God’s desire for a pure nation of Israel. Why, then, would the Lord honor Caleb the Kenizzite, a man descended not from Israel, but from his brother Esau?
The answer can be found not in Caleb’s blood, but in his heart.
When Caleb and Joshua returned from spying out the promised land (Nu 13), the first person to speak up for God wasn’t Joshua—the man who one day would lead the nation—but Caleb. After quieting the people, he declared, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Nu 13:30).
Forty-five years later, Caleb still possessed extraordinary amounts of courage and devotion to God. “Here I am today, eighty-five years old!” he declared. “I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out . . . Now give me this hill country” (Jos 14:10–12).
Joshua obviously recognized Caleb’s courage and devotion, because he blessed him and declared that Caleb had “followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly” (Jos 14:14). With a word, Joshua made Hebron Caleb’s inheritance and fulfilled Moses’ promise that God would someday reward him with the land he had walked as a spy all those years before. Caleb courageously fought the intimidating descendants of Anak and captured Hebron, their mountain home.
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The Law of Magnetism: Joshua Says Good-bye with Convictions
Joshua’s farewell speech urged Israel to stay passionately committed to God. Joshua reminded the people of God’s faithfulness, warned them against disobedience and concluded, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Jos 24:15). Everyone followed Joshua’s convictions during his lifetime, for he made them both attractive and magnetic.
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Joshua: Picture of a Faithful Leader
Joshua provides a superb example of a leader whose faithfulness prompted God to raise him up. Over the three divisions of his life (40 years in Egypt; 40 years in the wilderness; and 30 years in Canaan), God gradually moved this trustworthy man into leadership.
Note the signs of his faithfulness: Obedience (Ex 17:8–16; Nu 32:10–12); Servanthood (Ex 24:13; Jos 11:15); Loyalty (Ex 33:11; Nu 11:24–30); Courage (Nu 13:8, 16, 25–30; 14:5–10); Promotion (Nu 27:15–23); Responsibility (Dt 31:7–8); Power (Dt 34:9); Credibility (Dt 34:9). Joshua’s faithfulness challenges us even today to lead as he did:
1. Live ahead of your contemporaries. Joshua spied out the same land at the same time as the other 10 spies, but he and Caleb returned with a different report. He lived ahead of his time.
2. Live above your circumstances. Joshua faced several challenges: He followed Moses; he had to conquer mighty Jericho; he had to cross the Jordan with more than one million people. But he did it.
3. Live deeper than your calamities. When Israel began to make progress in taking the promised land, some disobeyed God and brought defeat on the nation. Joshua overcame it all.
4. Live beyond your capabilities. Joshua’s dream, his determination, and his ability to develop his leadership skills enabled him to soar beyond his own personal gifts.
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The Joshua Problem: He Failed to Give the Gift Moses Gave Him
Joshua’s leadership failed at only one major point: He left no “Joshua” to follow him, as he had followed Moses. Joshua did not reproduce his leadership in someone else. Consequently, the book of Judges records a time of anarchy, when “everyone did as they saw fit” (Jdg 21:25).
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