Joshua 1:10-18

We are continuing our series on Everyday Leaders, and if you look at your everyday life, I want you to think about the people you interact with on a regular basis. Maybe even right their name down on the paper you have with you or type it in the notes app on your phone. Last week we talked about how the relationships that we have are a platform to create boldness in us when God gives us a burden, but those relationships are a two way street. We can’t just build relationships in order to gain what we want, we also need to seek opportunities to impact peoples lives, to bless them and each one of us has the power to do that, to help people chart a course that God wants for them and the key word in that is influence.

Today we are going to look at another everyday leader from scripture who exemplified that, today we are going to learn from the influential leadership of Joshua. Open your Bible with me this morning to Joshua 1 starting at verse 10.  Joshua was the understudy, if you will, of Moses, he was his assistant and for about forty years had a front row seat to Moses’ ministry and service to God. He saw first hand the power of God at work in the leadership of Moses. Joshua was a great leader because of the example he had in Moses. Joshua had been fearless in the wilderness period leading up to this passage, he fought alongside the Israelite armies and was victorious, he had in fact seen the promised land for himself, being one twelve spies sent in to survey the land and its resources and its enemies, and in the text we will study this morning, Joshua is now tasked with completing the work originally ascribed to Moses his mentor. This is the backdrop for our introduction to Joshua the Son of Nun, a man who had powerful influencers around him who helped prepare him to be a great influencer. Joshua lived out a fundamental leadership principle that we can learn: great leaders guide the way to great things.

Our reading this morning is from Joshua 1:10-18:

Joshua 1:10-18(ESV) 10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, 15 until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

You may be seated, may God add his blessing to the reading of his word.

As we read this section of Joshua and his first encounter with God’s people that we have recorded without Moses, think for a moment about who he is talking to; a generation who hadthisas the narrative for their lives: slavery, homelessness and there parents dying in the wilderness because of their disobedience.

Think about growing up with that as your narrative and how you are on the edge of the land you’ve been told God has promised