Bottom line up front: Steadfastness in Leadership

Context: It was the 1440s B.C. in the plains of Moab outside Canaan. Moses, Israel’s great human mediatorial leader during the exodus from Egypt, had died. God took his life when he (Moses) was 120 years old at Mount Nebo (Deut. 34). Now, this rebellious people (Israel) had a new leader after the many years of largely faithful service under Moses. How would Joshua lead? What counsel should Joshua embrace? What principles should guide Joshua? What sort of character should Joshua have? Many more crucial questions could be asked, of course, but the heart of them all is, “Well, what are non-negotiables of a godly leader?”

Text:

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:5-9, ESV)

Encouragement: As a military chaplain, we Soldiers love the book of Joshua. After all, it’s a book about the ultimate divine Warrior, the Lord Himself. But it’s also replete with military battles, with combat, with trauma, with victories and defeats, etc. The book revolves in so many ways around the issue of steadfastness in leadership. There are many ugly, just downright horrific events, in fact, in the book of Joshua, too. Why? For us to learn. Folks respond well to steadfastness, to faithfulness, to those who are consistent. Why? Because those characteristics reflect God Himself.

As Joshua took command after a long time of leadership under Moses, God reminded Joshua of a few fundamentals about steadfastness: 1) God does not quit on his people (v. 5); 2) Godly leadership demands courage (vv. 6-9); and 3) Godly leadership will be judged for its adherence (or lack thereof) to God’s revealed will (v. 8). “Leadership is influence,” is the familiar maxim from a popular leadership personality. But steadfastness is a fundamental building block of good and godly leadership.