Every leader will be faced with situations and decisions that demand courage. Just as God knows your current situation, He knew Joshua’s leadership situation. God knew Joshua’s need for courage and gave him guidance that would strengthen his faith. Read Joshua 1:1-9.

Joshua had some challenges that demanded courage in his leadership role. He had to contend with the military powers of the people living in the Promised Land, most of who had standing armies and professional soldiers who knew they were fighting for their homes and the survival of their families. And Joshua also knew he would be facing them with a partially trained and untested band of nomadic shepherds.

As the Hebrew nation camped on the border to the land God had promised to give them, Moses selected leaders from each tribe to go in and bring back a report on what it would take to move into this land. There were 12 spies that scouted out the land of Canaan and of the 12 only Joshua and Caleb believed that the Israelites could take the land. After returning with their reports, the 10 leaders had more influence over the people than either Joshua or Caleb. Even though he had the correct position before God, Joshua had not matured into a place of great influence. Read Numbers 14:1-12.

If we look only at this early part of Joshua’s life of leadership, we could get discouraged. I have seen several potentially outstanding leaders give up when they were ineffective in the use of their influence. Fortunately for the nation of Israel, Joshua did not fit into that mold. Joshua had a major setback in his leadership life but he continued to be faithful to God. As he matured he eventually became a leader with great influence and was the man God chose to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land 40 years later.

Miriam was Moses’ sister. Miriam is only mentioned a few times in the story of the Hebrew exodus from captivity in Egypt, but each time she is talked about in terms of being an influencer (a leader). Read Exodus 2:1-10; Exodus 15:19-20; Numbers 12; Numbers 20:1.

Miriam was used by God as an influencer from her childhood. When Moses was an infant and his parents had him placed in the Nile in a basket in hopes of avoiding the infanticide demanded by law, it was Miriam who the parents trusted to not only place him in the river at the proper place and moment so he would be found by Pharaoh’s daughter but they also trusted Miriam to make contact with Pharaoh’s daughter and persuade the princess to allow her to find a Hebrew nursemaid. Miriam had the courage to accept a difficult assignment and follow it through to completion.

Leaders must repeatedly cast the vision, however, if your team is discouraged, the vision you cast may be undermined. A Spirit-empowered leader counteracts discouragement by the constant restatement of the vision and consistent action toward the goal. Read Exodus 5:22-6:9.

In Exodus chapter 3, God had Moses assemble the Hebrew elders and tell them of His vision to give the Hebrew people “…a land flowing with milk and honey.” God told Moses “The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him…” The initial response to the vision was positive and the people embraced Moses’ leadership. When Pharaoh did not immediately comply with their request discouragement set in.

God established purpose for lives He created. Read Genesis 1:22-25.

God gave His creation a charge to “Be fruitful and multiply…each according to its kind.” Life needs purpose. Among the most unhappy individuals in my sphere of influence are those who do not know why they are here and what God wants them to accomplish. They are seeking direction and purpose.