Leadership lessons from Joshua

Joshua 1:16-18

¹⁶ Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"

There are many qualities that have bonded people to follow some of the greatest leaders in history. Whether it was Lincoln’s honesty, Leonidas’ courage, or Solomon’s wisdom, every great leader has had some quality that compelled and constrained people to a cause. This is partially true in the Kingdom. I say partially because its not that Kingdom leaders don’t have bold qualities that compel people to follow them; I said partially because in the Kingdom of God the one quality above all else that compels people to follow their leaders is…God! Regardless how gifted and talented the leader is if God is not with them, they will have a difficult time not only getting people to follow them, but they will have to coheres and manipulate to keep them following him or her. Look at the text. The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, or the tribes on the East of the Jordan in vs. 16 explicitly say they will follow Joshua “…wherever he goes…” —affirming their commitment to him. In vs. 17(a) they say “… as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you…” now we see them describing their commitment level to Joshua. Now looking at vs. 17b we see that their commitment is not unconditional, for the tribes on the East of the Jordan say, “…only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.” There you have it the condition that will keep the Hebrews bound to the leadership of Joshua—that God be with him as he was with Moses. I am not saying that leaders should not grow or develop or educate themselves, but what I am saying is regardless of the time and effort the Kingdom leader put in his or herself trying to become a better leader, it is all for not unless God is with them. True every great leader has had some quality that bonds people to them. Yet, a great Kingdom leader must not only have great leadership skills, but they must have the backing of God during their leadership tenure. Understand, the one quality above all else that compels people in the Kingdom to follow its leaders is, God.