As a leader I am fascinated with Joshua’s leadership style. If you scan the book of Joshua, you see many incredible leadership principles that can impact our own areas of influence. He was the second to lead the Israelites. Moses of course was the first and he had died at this point but before he died, he commissioned Joshua to take over and continue the path to Canaan that God had promised His followers. Joshua, a descendant of slaves, had trained under Moses’ leadership and Moses’ legacy lived on partially because of it.
Have you noticed the influence he had? Check out Joshua 24:29-31. This passage comes after Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, the land had been distributed among the tribes and after the renewal of their covenant with God.
The main thing we see in this is that “throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua, Israel worshipped God!" That’s influence that lives on. What he learned from Moses was lived out during his lifetime and then passed on to leaders who followed.
Do you see a pattern of leadership legacy here? Throughout the Psalms we see the idea of leaving behind a legacy that will touch generations yet to be born! Now, consider your leadership…is the influence you have something you want to pass on to others and then leave behind after you are gone?
Watch for this new series on Leadership Lessons from Joshua that will be posted on this blog. Pray and ask God what you can learn from the life and legacy of Joshua.
Resources:
Called to Be God’s Leader: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership, Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby