An Example of Leadership

Leading by Example
The most important thing about leadership at any level is what the leader does, not necessarily what he says. Ideally, those two things should line up. But if they do not, the leader will be judged by his actions more so than his words.
The Old Testament book of Joshua describes a leader who was consistent in the example he set for others. Joshua was not a perfect, mistake-free leader (see Joshua 9), but his dedication to the Lord allowed Israel to accomplish the task of overtaking the land of Canaan. It was his commitment to God and to his people that made the difference.
At the very beginning of the book of Joshua, God approached Joshua with a specific challenge, along with promises and instructions for the challenge. Joshua willingly accepted the challenge and led the nation by his words and actions. Leaders today can learn from the example of Joshua and seek to respond to God the same way that he did.

The Challenge
Joshua was the man God established to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses had died. The Lord challenged Joshua to pick up where Moses had left off at the time of his death. Moses had brought the children of Israel to the edge of the Jordan River, bordering the land of Canaan. It was here, after Moses’ death, that God told Joshua, “Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them” (v. 2).

The Promises
The Lord gave three specific promises to Joshua to assure him that the challenge would be carried out. The first such promise was that all of the land upon which the people of Israel would walk would be included in their possessions. “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory” (vv. 3-4). “To this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them” (v. 6b).
The second promise was an assurance of victory. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life” (v. 5a). The third promise was the Lord’s continual presence. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you” (v. 5b). “The LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (v. 9b).

The Instructions
The instructions for Joshua’s success in facing this challenge were twofold. First, God commanded Joshua thrice in this passage to have strength and courage (vv. 6, 7, and 9). This charge was reiterated by the Israelites to Joshua in verse 18. Secondly, God commanded that Joshua regularly meditate on the “Book of the Law” which Moses had written. God declared that doing so would result in prosperity and success (v. 8).