A Word From The Pastor
If you are reading this and are part of the North Anderson family, you know that we began a new expository sermon series through the book of Joshua a little while ago.
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve worked our way through the first 9 verses of chapter 1. I won’t rehash what we unpacked in those sermons here…but they are available here on our website of on the North Anderson Podcast if you missed them or would like to review.
This Sunday (January 11th), we’ll be moving on to the second chapter but I wanted to take a couple of minutes to write a little on the last few verses of chapter one.
As I read Joshua 1:10-18, I can’t help but see it as a masterclass on effective leadership.
Here’s the reality: Some leaders are especially gifted in communicating clear objectives and motivating people towards a specific goal….but have enormous deficiencies in cultivating and implementing the kind of strategy or plan that is required in order for the vision to be realized.
On the other hand, there are some leaders who are exactly the opposite!
They are extremely decisive; in fact, they are far often too quick to make decisions, and put very little thought into decisions or the ramifications of the decisions they make. They are all gas-no break but lack clear objectives, goals, and struggle in follow-through.
An effective leader must have both of these qualities, and Joshua certainly did.
Immediately after the Lord’s commissioning of Joshua in Joshua 1:1-9, we read:
“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’” – Joshua 1:10-11
No vagueness, no focus groups or whiteboard sessions to discuss river crossings, no action without goals or goals without action.
What an incredible leader Joshua is! In this passage, not only is His decisiveness obvious, so are his objectives.
But notice that He’s wise enough to realize that no matter how intentional, clear, and well thought out his plans were, he fails without partnership.
Joshua understands that he can’t do everything himself and that if he tries, he will fail to take advantage of the gifts and leadership acumen of those in whom the Lord surrounded him.
In this passage, Joshua tells the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people.”
Had Joshua been the kind of leader who HAD to have his fingerprints on everything, to be up front, get the spotlight, and ultimately receive the applause, he would have said, “Gather the people on the banks of the Jordan, I have something to say.”
Joshua was a leader who preferred to work through others.
He had a good teacher in this, by the way. Do you remember the story of how Moses nearly suffered a nervous breakdown in Exodus 18?
Moses is leading Israel solo and it the weight of that task almost kills him.
His father-in-law, Jethro, arrived from Midian for a visit, sees the way people are coming to Moses one after another, demanding he settle their disputes and solve their problems. He explains to Moses that he couldn’t go on like that. Ultimately, it’d be bad for him but for Israel as well!
In leadership, it’s easy to develop a “Messiah complex” of sorts…to have all the answers, to solve all of the problems, to lead all of the ministries, to be available at all times.
The problem with that is that earthly leaders, even the best of them, make for terrible Messiahs.
We don’t have all the answers or solutions and don’t have the capacity to be front and center of all that is going on.
A leader who makes themself available at all times is never fully available at any time because they are stretched so thin that they can’t give the best of themselves to their people.
Jethro wisely advises Moses to delegate what responsibility he can to other trusted and gifted individuals and let them do what the Lord has called and gifted them to do.
Joshua learned from Moses and we see that here!
As we read on in the passage, we see that this great leader was not only decisive and able to craft effective strategy, also knew how to inspire and motivate his people.
“Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.’ Your wives, dependents, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your best soldiers must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they too possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. You may then return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of what Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on the east side of the Jordan.” – Joshua 1:12-15
The power to inspire others to service and sacrifice is a special gift, especially when you need to get them to do something they don’t particularly want to do.
In verses 12-15 we find Joshua addressing specific tribes: The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
These three tribes had decided to settle down in the area which is now Jordan instead of crossing the Jordan River to settle in Canaan. Moses had given permission for this, but Joshua knew that the men of these tribes were needed for the conquest of Canaan.
Instead of revoking Moses’ promise and charting another course, which some leaders might have done, he offered an alternative.
He granted them the land they wanted but asked that all their valiant warriors help with the conquering of the Promised Land. He let them know that as soon as the job was done, they could return to the east side of the Jordan to join their wives and children.
This provided a great incentive to deal with the Canaanites swiftly, and it inspired these three tribes to follow Joshua.
So Joshua, soon after Moses dies, is proving his mettle as successor.
By the grace of God, he’s got what it takes to lead effectively.
They people sure took notice, didn’t they? Look at their response to Joshua’s display of leadership -
“They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. Certainly the Lord your God will be with you, as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!” – Joshua 1:16-18
Leadership can be a very lonely position.
Most leaders are in a great need of encouragement. The responsibility and pressure of leading can be overwhelming, at times.
I feel certain that Joshua, looking across the Jordan at the fortified walls of Jericho and knowing that the Lord had tasked him with leading the people into that land, felt that pressure.
I think that the Israelites acknowledged the pressure that he must have been feeling because they encouraged him in an incredible way in this text: “May the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses…be strong and courageous, Joshua”. The Israelites affirm Joshua’s leadership and encourage him to press on!
I can just see him beaming after receiving the affirmation and encouragement of those he was called to lead. Judging by the resolve Joshua soon shows in following through with God’s plan for His leadership, I have to think that this word of encouragement was a pivotal moment in Joshuas story.
The truth is: We will never know how powerful and transformative affirmation or encouragement can be in a persons life and we should be quick to offer both.
Just a quick reminder that due to the electrical renovations being done to our church office, there will be no printed liturgy on Sunday. There is a digital liturgy available on the North Anderson App.
I look forward to jumping into the incredible story of Rahab and ask that you pray for me as I preach God’s Word.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor DK
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve worked our way through the first 9 verses of chapter 1. I won’t rehash what we unpacked in those sermons here…but they are available here on our website of on the North Anderson Podcast if you missed them or would like to review.
This Sunday (January 11th), we’ll be moving on to the second chapter but I wanted to take a couple of minutes to write a little on the last few verses of chapter one.
As I read Joshua 1:10-18, I can’t help but see it as a masterclass on effective leadership.
Here’s the reality: Some leaders are especially gifted in communicating clear objectives and motivating people towards a specific goal….but have enormous deficiencies in cultivating and implementing the kind of strategy or plan that is required in order for the vision to be realized.
On the other hand, there are some leaders who are exactly the opposite!
They are extremely decisive; in fact, they are far often too quick to make decisions, and put very little thought into decisions or the ramifications of the decisions they make. They are all gas-no break but lack clear objectives, goals, and struggle in follow-through.
An effective leader must have both of these qualities, and Joshua certainly did.
Immediately after the Lord’s commissioning of Joshua in Joshua 1:1-9, we read:
“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’” – Joshua 1:10-11
No vagueness, no focus groups or whiteboard sessions to discuss river crossings, no action without goals or goals without action.
What an incredible leader Joshua is! In this passage, not only is His decisiveness obvious, so are his objectives.
But notice that He’s wise enough to realize that no matter how intentional, clear, and well thought out his plans were, he fails without partnership.
Joshua understands that he can’t do everything himself and that if he tries, he will fail to take advantage of the gifts and leadership acumen of those in whom the Lord surrounded him.
In this passage, Joshua tells the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people.”
Had Joshua been the kind of leader who HAD to have his fingerprints on everything, to be up front, get the spotlight, and ultimately receive the applause, he would have said, “Gather the people on the banks of the Jordan, I have something to say.”
Joshua was a leader who preferred to work through others.
He had a good teacher in this, by the way. Do you remember the story of how Moses nearly suffered a nervous breakdown in Exodus 18?
Moses is leading Israel solo and it the weight of that task almost kills him.
His father-in-law, Jethro, arrived from Midian for a visit, sees the way people are coming to Moses one after another, demanding he settle their disputes and solve their problems. He explains to Moses that he couldn’t go on like that. Ultimately, it’d be bad for him but for Israel as well!
In leadership, it’s easy to develop a “Messiah complex” of sorts…to have all the answers, to solve all of the problems, to lead all of the ministries, to be available at all times.
The problem with that is that earthly leaders, even the best of them, make for terrible Messiahs.
We don’t have all the answers or solutions and don’t have the capacity to be front and center of all that is going on.
A leader who makes themself available at all times is never fully available at any time because they are stretched so thin that they can’t give the best of themselves to their people.
Jethro wisely advises Moses to delegate what responsibility he can to other trusted and gifted individuals and let them do what the Lord has called and gifted them to do.
Joshua learned from Moses and we see that here!
As we read on in the passage, we see that this great leader was not only decisive and able to craft effective strategy, also knew how to inspire and motivate his people.
“Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.’ Your wives, dependents, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your best soldiers must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they too possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. You may then return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of what Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on the east side of the Jordan.” – Joshua 1:12-15
The power to inspire others to service and sacrifice is a special gift, especially when you need to get them to do something they don’t particularly want to do.
In verses 12-15 we find Joshua addressing specific tribes: The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
These three tribes had decided to settle down in the area which is now Jordan instead of crossing the Jordan River to settle in Canaan. Moses had given permission for this, but Joshua knew that the men of these tribes were needed for the conquest of Canaan.
Instead of revoking Moses’ promise and charting another course, which some leaders might have done, he offered an alternative.
He granted them the land they wanted but asked that all their valiant warriors help with the conquering of the Promised Land. He let them know that as soon as the job was done, they could return to the east side of the Jordan to join their wives and children.
This provided a great incentive to deal with the Canaanites swiftly, and it inspired these three tribes to follow Joshua.
So Joshua, soon after Moses dies, is proving his mettle as successor.
By the grace of God, he’s got what it takes to lead effectively.
They people sure took notice, didn’t they? Look at their response to Joshua’s display of leadership -
“They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. Certainly the Lord your God will be with you, as he was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!” – Joshua 1:16-18
Leadership can be a very lonely position.
Most leaders are in a great need of encouragement. The responsibility and pressure of leading can be overwhelming, at times.
I feel certain that Joshua, looking across the Jordan at the fortified walls of Jericho and knowing that the Lord had tasked him with leading the people into that land, felt that pressure.
I think that the Israelites acknowledged the pressure that he must have been feeling because they encouraged him in an incredible way in this text: “May the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses…be strong and courageous, Joshua”. The Israelites affirm Joshua’s leadership and encourage him to press on!
I can just see him beaming after receiving the affirmation and encouragement of those he was called to lead. Judging by the resolve Joshua soon shows in following through with God’s plan for His leadership, I have to think that this word of encouragement was a pivotal moment in Joshuas story.
The truth is: We will never know how powerful and transformative affirmation or encouragement can be in a persons life and we should be quick to offer both.
Just a quick reminder that due to the electrical renovations being done to our church office, there will be no printed liturgy on Sunday. There is a digital liturgy available on the North Anderson App.
I look forward to jumping into the incredible story of Rahab and ask that you pray for me as I preach God’s Word.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor DK
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