Does your leadership display courage and decisiveness? (76-3)

In these last few lessons on Joshua’s leadership it seems good to look at some leadership characteristics displayed by Joshua. Two areas where Joshua left an unmistakable mark on his countrymen were his courage and decisiveness. Read Joshua Chapters 13-19.

In Joshua chapter 1 when God commissioned Joshua he told him to be strong and courageous. Joshua’s courage and faith was immediately put to the test when three days after his commissioning he led the people into the Promised Land through the Jordan River at flood stage. For Joshua courage came out of faith. Because Joshua’s faith in God did not waiver he took action in the face of insurmountable odds.

As we look back on his victories it is easy to assume Joshua knew all along he would be a great hero of God and easily defeat the people in the land. If we had been alive in Joshua’s day when the Israelites had no track record and if we had personally viewed some of the walled cities and if we had seen some of the enemies professional soldiers, our assumptions may be quite different. Christian leaders will find the courage to sustain their next decision when they believe more in God’s ability than their own.

Joshua was also a very decisive leader. His military style of leadership was exactly what the Israelites needed as they entered a time in their history when every decision needed to be timely. Just a few examples of Joshua’s decisiveness:

• Joshua developed a clear picture of the land remaining to be conquered (13:1-14:5).
• Joshua clearly articulated the boundaries of each tribe’s land and what they needed to do (15:1-17:18).
• Joshua challenged the tribes of Israel to take the land God had promised them (18:1-4).
• Joshua appointed teams to survey the scope of the remaining land and report back to him (18:4-10).
• Once Joshua received the reports from the survey team, he determined who should get what land (18:11-19:51).

Often it is the leader’s decisiveness that gives a team the courage and confidence to follow them. One of the officers I served under while in the Marine Corp had a favorite saying, “Marines, we are going to do SOMETHING even if it is wrong – now move out!” This officer’s wording did not lead us to think he was taking unnecessary risks with our lives but rather his decisiveness gave us courage because he had Marines in action rather than waiting for something to happen.

Effective leaders find a way to constantly evaluate where they are putting their trust, themselves or God. Total trust in God allows a leader to be decisive and gives them the courage to make difficult decisions.