Joshua is a key figure in the history of the people of Israel. He is the one who succeeded Moses to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. His inspiring life is full of a panoply of lessons that can help us.
5 Leadership Lessons From The Life of Joshua
1. Combativeness
Joshua was a true warrior. He was the leader of the army of Israel. He did not shrink from obstacles. He guided the crossing of the people of Israel in the Jordan.
Facing Jericho, he did not look at the ambushes of the city but he obeyed God who delivered the city to him. He fought 31 kings (Joshua 12:24).
Joshua was a good strategist. Thanks to his leadership, the people of Israel conquered territories.
God’s promise does not exclude battles, oppositions and obstacles. Be a fighter. Don’t stop on the way, the grace of God is your support.
You can count on His strength and His infallible support. Go conquer territories for His glory!
“Be strong and take courage, for it is you who will put this people in possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. (Joshua 1:6 KJV)
“I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I wrote to you, young people, because you are strong, and the word of God dwells in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (I John 2: 14 KJV)
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2. Vision
Joshua was a visionary. He witnessed the grace of God in the life of Moses. Surely he knew God’s plan for the people of Israel.
He knew that God wanted to lead the people of Israel where milk and honey flow. However, it was necessary to fight hard to seize the territories.
It took Joshua not to lose sight of the vision in difficult times. It happened that the people of Israel were defeated because of their disobedience. But Joshua as a true leader, implored the Lord to know the cause of the defeat in order to restore order (Joshua 7:5-26) . Don’t stop on the way when situations seem difficult to you.
Do not lose sight of the vision God has given you. If you happen to stumble or fall, don’t stay on the ground. God is not done with you. You still have territories to conquer, lives to impact, souls to win for your God. Remember the vision and rise to conquer!
3. Faith
When Joshua took over to ensure the entry of the people of Israel into the promised land, the various territories promised by God were still inhabited. Joshua had to seize these lands by faith before he took them physically.
It was a real battle of faith for each conquest. Facing Jericho, we witnessed a great demonstration of faith.
The city of Jericho is a barricaded city and there was no entrance or exit. God asked the children of Israel to go around the city seven times sounding the trumpets.
Joshua believed in the Word of the Lord, and on the seventh day, after having circled the city 7 times, the city walls crumbled and the children of Israel took over the city. “ Jericho was closed and barricaded in front of the children of Israel. No one left, and no one entered. The Lord said to Joshua, See, I have delivered Jericho and its king, its mighty soldiers, into your hand. Go around the city, all you men of war, go around the city once. You will do so for six days. On the seventh day, they got up early in the morning, at dawn, and they made the same way seven times around the city; it was the only day on which they circumnavigated the city seven times.
The seventh time, as the priests sounded the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout, for the Lord has delivered the city to you!
The city will be devoted to the Eternal by interdict, it and all that is in it; but Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house will be left alive, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. (Joshua 6:1-3, 15-17 KJV).
Faith is essential to make it to the end of the shore. Even if times seem increasingly difficult at the turn, know that God has already armed you with His courage. With Him you are more than a winner.
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4. Perseverance
Joshua’s testimony is marked by a perseverance in the promise. Joshua does not stop at one, two or three conquered territories. He relied on God and pursued conquest with the people of Israel. Knowing of God’s promise, he wanted to live it fully not only for himself but also for his family and his people.
How many times have we stopped at the first victory while God hasn’t finished astonishing and surprising us. I would like to encourage you to persevere in your conquest, God has more for you.
Don’t stop on the way. Keep fighting, if you happen to have failures, difficult times, dark times, know that a victory without pain and effort is temporary. We couldn’t know the true value of a won fight if we didn’t pay the price.
Get up and continue your conquest! If you happen to trip or fall, don’t stay on the ground. God is your support, keep going.
“But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:13 KJV).
5. Legacy of service
Joshua at the end of his ministry summons the children of Israel to ensure that after his death the children of Israel will continue to walk with God. With a firm tone, he declares that his household will serve the Lord: “ Now fear the Lord, and serve Him with integrity and faithfulness. Destroy the gods that your fathers served across the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if you find it not good to serve the Lord, choose today whom you will serve, either the gods which your fathers served beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. I and my household will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:14-15 KJV)
Joshua not only served God alone, he served with his family. He is an example for us. We must devote ourselves to service with our families. God’s plan is for us to serve him with everything that belongs to us: our possessions, our resources, our family. I pray that you serve God with your whole family from generation to generation!
