“Then Joshua gave orders to the people’s leaders: “Go through the camp and give this order to the people: ‘Pack your bags. In three days you will cross this Jordan River to enter and take the land God, your God, is giving you to possess.'” They answered Joshua: “Everything you commanded us, we’ll do. Wherever you send us, we’ll go. We obeyed Moses to the letter; we’ll also obey you—we just pray that God, your God, will be with you as he was with Moses. Anyone who questions what you say and refuses to obey whatever you command him will be put to death. Strength! Courage!” Joshua 1:10-11, 16-18
Joshua was leading people into the unknown. He did not know how God was going to take the people across the Jordan River, but he was willing to step out and lead the people even when he didn’t have all the answers. Joshua was leading to a place he had never been. Many times, leaders are fearful of leading people somewhere because they do not know how it is going to turn out. As a leader, you must be willing to take the first step of faith and others will follow. God gave Joshua favor with the people because he was being obedient. What if Joshua did not act because he was too intimidated by the people…His name was Joshua, not Moses. Joshua probably did not realize the leadership skills that he had learned from Moses until he had to put them to the test. He had been learning to lead people while beside Moses. He just didn’t know it until he was called upon to lead. Don’t underestimate the things you learn while doing life with other people.
Joshua placed his confidence in God, which enabled him to have confidence in front of the people. Joshua was no longer just a leader in Israel but a leader of leaders. Because of Joshua’s direction to the people, they were willing to stand behind him. People follow leaders with vision and direction. Joshua also did not forfeit his platform to promote his own agenda. What if Joshua had decided to set himself up as a ruler over Israel in the desert Joshua knew that pursuing God’s plan was better than any personal agenda. Because Joshua placed God’s promise and plan as the primary focus, God blessed him with favor from the leaders and people. They were willing to rally behind him and diffuse the agenda of people who would stand in the way. The leaders of Israel were willing to even put people to death over the matter if they did not follow God’s plan. Now, that’s some serious commitment.
Joshua was not willing to let the people miss out on God’s blessing for forty more years by allowing leadership in Israel to take his focus off of God’s promise. Joshua imparted vision and direction to his leaders, bringing attention to God and his promises not the obstacles in the way. The Jordan River was an obstacle because it would have been impossible for all of the people to cross it. It was not a small creek that everyone could hop over. However, God is not limited by things that seem impossible. Joshua had seen miracles during the life of Moses. He was confident that the same God was able to work in his situation too!
Although leaders are faced with obstacles, they have to possess great faith in God’s promise and provision. With God, all things are possible!