Joshua’s story reminds me of a man who gave a testimony in a church that I used to frequent. This man would be among the first to arrive on Sundays to serve. His duty, cleaning the men’s wash rooms. Many did not know that he was among what they call the Big Boys in Nairobi- he was rolling in that drip!
The silence and shock waves when he gave his testimony to a large group of congregants one Sunday were deafening. Never mind, the business cards that must have been violently shoved on his face after that service and probably later.
Joshua was appointed by God to lead Israel after the death of Moses at a time when Israel greatly rebelled against God and his appointed leaders. He exuded great leadership skills acquired from obediently following, learning and obeying his boss, Moses.
It is interesting to note that there is power in a name- good or bad, it can be very prophetic. When Joshua was appointed by God to assist Moses, Moses under God’s instruction changed Joshua’s name. He was renamed from Hoshea which means “salvation” to Joshua, the Hebrew name Yehoshua’, which means “Yahweh saves. Through God’s grace and guidance, and true to his changed name, Joshua did save Israel many a times.
Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” Joshua 1:16-18
Joshua proved that an obedient follower always translates to a great servant leader through the following qualities.
- Young and fearless: Like a determined lion on a gazelle, Joshua was a young fearless man when Moses appointed him as one of his assistants during the journey in the wilderness. He later became Moses’ successor.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
- Honesty and humility not to be confused with weakness are key for leaders to earn respect from others, often leading to reliability. Humble and obedient, Joshua feared and revered God and was led to great victory as a leader. The Israelites celebrated and trusted him as their leader.
- Excellence: Joshua executed his duties with excellence. He exuded wisdom and sought God in almost all occasions- well, apart from that one time he allowed his emotions to take over while dealing with the Gibeonites . Those crafty men of Gibeon played him a good one.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:5
- Integrity: Joshua was never corrupt. He embrace integrity and clearly understood its fundamentalism in the foundation of good leadership. No matter the circumstances, Joshua inspired the flock without compromise and never left God’s covering. Related: https://thelovetablet.com/2022/09/06/hamans-shoddily-secured-bag-is-snatched-by-mordecai-them-tables-do-turn/
- Communication Skills: Joshua as an effective leader knew that good communication means clearly conveying a message, making the other person feel heard and understood. He was the liaison between his people and God.
You can click here to read more. https://afrikanexcellence.thelovetablet.com/2023/01/10/4-common-barriers-to-effective-communication/
God Fights For His People
Joshua’s story in the Bible is a clear example that when we trust God and undertake everything with him, he blesses us and gives us:
- Courage and boldness. God encouraged his people to face their enemies. He led them into the promised land and fulfilled the promises he had made to Abraham their father.
- Supernatural strength and God’s faithfulness. The Israel armies under Joshua marched against their enemies like a laser focused angry ram on a target. No confusion, no surrender. Through obeying God, they turned those fear mongering enemies to dust.
- Defeating the enemies camp-confusing them. Just like his name, Jehovah Jireh, Adonai and Nissi, God showed up and delivered his people. His sovereignty was shown through many things such as blocking the waters of River Jordan, bringing down the walls of Jericho city, sending hailstones from heaven to attack his people’s enemies and even lengthening the hours of a day. God indeed showed the people his majesty and sovereignty.
- Signs, wonders and fulfilled promises. Just like every tribe of Israel had an inheritance, all God’s remnant are guaranteed to enjoy and thrive in the land of the living despite life’s curve balls, and get to acquire eternal life and rest in God’s kingdom.
More Bible Verses On Joshua’s Victories
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country – to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Joshua 1:4 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. Joshua 1:4 Joshua 10 1 Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed [1] it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and were living near them. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. 4 "Come up and help me attack Gibeon," he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites." 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites--the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon--joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. 6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." 7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. 8 The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." 9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. 12 On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." 13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on [2] its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! 15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal. 16 Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, "Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don't stop! Pursue your enemies, attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand." 20 So Joshua and the Israelites destroyed them completely--almost to a man--but the few who were left reached their fortified cities. 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites. 22 Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave--the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." 26 Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening... Get your Bible and keep reading!
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