Are you keeping good company? (73-4)
In the study of Joshua as a leader we have the benefit of seeing his whole leadership life from start to finish. Having the whole story of Joshua’s leadership life allows us to quickly respect him as a leader but had you been alive back in his day watching him develop as a leader, it is possible you could have had a different feeling about Joshua’s influence as a leader. According to Numbers 14:10a “But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.” So what happened? How did Joshua’s influence grow from a man saved from being stoned only by intervention of God to a man the people willingly followed into battle when taking the Promised Land?
- Joshua maintained a relationship with, was mentored by, and had leadership passed to him by God through another respected leader (Moses). Read Deuteronomy 31:1-8, 23. Developing leaders are affected by the company they keep and the character of their mentor is critical in their development.
- Leadership abilities grow with time and maturity. Read Numbers 14:1-10 and Joshua 18:1-10. Joshua gave the same basic speech in Numbers 14 that he delivered in Joshua 18. The difference was that the second time, a mature Joshua spoke to a new generation. The people had seen his leadership skills in action, and he had a track record that gave the people confidence.
- Joshua’s influence grew because of God’s timing. Read Joshua 1:1-5 and 16-18. As we work to become the best leader we can be it is easy to forget that we each are ultimately fitting into God’s plan and His timing. God had prepared the people for Joshua’s leadership at the same time he was growing Joshua as a leader.
- Joshua’s leadership grew because he never lost focus concerning his relationship with God. Read Joshua 1:1-9 and Joshua 23:1-11. God prepared Joshua for the task of leadership before him by encouraging him to be strong and courageous and to meditate and feed on the book of the law. Late in his life we see the results of a focused, disciplined leader’s life.
Leadership is all about influence and Joshua demonstrates that influence comes down to character and conviction.
What areas of your leadership are most vulnerable to the compromise of your godly values? Why? What is the root of this vulnerability? Since all action is directed by belief, when you can find the core (false) truth and replace it with a timeless truth established by God in His word, your temptation to compromise in that area will be gone.