According to John Maxwell in The Maxwell Leadership Bible, Joshua practices the Law of Victory. Read Joshua 6:1-20.

Maxwell states:

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 the 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.

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.

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.

There is a tendency by leaders, who by nature are achievers, to personally do the work or micro-manage others through a project. Even Christian leaders who believe they were called to a specific task, who believe God staffed their team and who trust that the same God that leads them leads each member of their team often micro-manage decisions. This is a false form of godliness that deceives and puts the trust in our own abilities rather than the sovereign God. Read Exodus 18.

The Hebrews had left Egypt under Moses’ leadership and Moses had settled into his leadership role enough to send for his wife and sons to join him. His father-in-law, Jethro, brought them and spent some time with Moses before going home. During his time with Moses, Jethro had an opportunity to watch Moses serve in one of his leadership roles as a judge of the people. At the end of the day Jethro asked Moses, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

God always keeps His promises but in His time and in His way. Leaders who have prayed about an issue and received a promise from God need to trust and not doubt. Leaders tend to doubt when they look only at circumstances rather than trusting in God. Read Genesis 18:9-15 and Genesis 21:1-7.

Sarah was 89 and Abraham was 99 and they were still childless. Sarah, ease dropping at the door of their tent, heard a visitor tell Abraham that within a year he and Sarah would have a child. When Sarah heard this she laughed to herself. Who wouldn’t have? Their circumstances were impossible. At just the moment of fulfillment to a life of clinging to God’s promise, Sarah doubted. Every leader needs to hear what God said to Sarah in Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”