Lessons in Leadership from Joshua

Joshua watched and learned under Moses for 40 years before he became leader of Israel.  He watched the mistakes, the victories, the attitudes, as well as his relationship with God.  Not many people get a 40 year internship for anything, but as it turns out, Joshua needed it and he was a fast learner. 

 Twice Joshua made a crucial mistake:

 

1) Joshua 7 - When it came time to attack Ai, Joshua became over confident after the miracle at the Jordan River and after the victory at Jericho.  The result was not consulting with God before attacking Ai.  After the defeat, he went directly to God and asked what happened and why.  God was very gracious in letting him know why and how to remedy the situation (i.e. get the sin out of the camp).  After he consulted with God he was able to make a devastating blow on the city of Ai and destroyed the city.

2) Joshua 9 - Even though God had said not to make a treaty with anyone, Joshua was confronted with a group of people who claimed to be from a distant land that had heard about Jehovah and how He had fought for His people.  They claimed they wanted to make a treaty and then return to their home far away.  The truth was they were from an area only about 15 miles away from where Israel was camped.  Joshua, again not consulting with God, chose to make the treaty and to offer them protection.  Soon afterward it was found out that the people the treaty was made with were nearby.  Even though Joshua became angry, he kept his word and made the people servants of Israel.

 If you read carefully the rest of Joshua, he never again made the mistake of not consulting God before doing anything.  He was a fast learner and remained humble though out his time as leader.  He also kept his word even when it went against what he knew to be right.  He could have destroyed the people in Joshua 9, but he made a promise to protect them and that is what he did.

 The lessons in leadership we can learn from Joshua are easy to discern from these two passages.  The first is to always go to God and consult with him before we do anything.  I am not saying we need to consult God in what to eat or what to wear or what couch to buy; I am saying that anything that could have lasting consequences must be brought before God.  Examples of this is: Should I date his person or that one, should I take this or that job, should I make such and such a promise, How do I proceed from here?  These are just a few of the many things we as leaders in any capacity, even in our own personal lives, MUST consult God over.  It would be better to over consult than not consult at all.

 The second lesson is that once you make a promise, keep it no matter what the cost (unless of course you have clear direction from God to do otherwise).  Joshua could have cancelled the treaty with the nearby people and destroyed them, but instead he protected them and kept his word.  As a result of keeping his promise to them, God worked miracles and might acts that only God could have done.  It was right after this treaty that these people came under attack and God told Joshua to go protect them.  This is where the famous story of the sun standing still comes from.  Joshua, with God’s help, was able to fulfill his promise and not only protected the people he swore to, but also won a major victory in conquering the Promised Land.

 Again, the two lessons a Godly leader must learn are 1) Consult God in everything, and 2) When you make a promise, keep it.  If you do these two things, God will raise you up, as he did Joshua,  as a mighty leader and will bless you.