1Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel. 3I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. 5No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.
6“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
What made Joshua such a good choice for leadership? To answer that question, we need to look back at his life. We know, that Joshua had been in slavery with the other Israelites and had experienced first-hand God’s rescue from Egypt.
The first time we hear of Joshua was just after the Children of Israel had been attacked by the Amalekites in Exodus 17. Moses calls for Joshua and instructs him get an army ready for a battle against the enemy. Joshua does just that he organises an army, leads them into battle and fights alongside them. Joshua, does all of this knowing that God was on their side. He was assured that the God who got them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea would defeat the Amalekites too. Joshua was obedient in carrying out the task, he lead by example in fighting alongside the other soldiers and he was assured of victory, because of his confidence in God.
We all lead at some point in our lives, whether it is helping to guide a friend through a difficulty, or parenting or in work or in church. Everyone one of us at some point will lead in situations big or small. Joshua gives us a good template for leadership. We like him need to, be obedient to God, lead by example and keep our confidence in God.