True Leadership

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Mighty God, this is my desire: command and I will obey; overrule and I will yield; lead and I will follow.

Read Joshua 4:10–24

^[10] Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, ^[11] and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. ^[12] The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. ^[13] About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war. ^[14] That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses. ^[15] Then the LORD said to Joshua, ^[16] “Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.” ^[17] So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” ^[18] And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. ^[19] On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. ^[20] And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ^[21] He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ ^[22] tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ ^[23] For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ^[24] He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Meditate

“Leaders can change situations! Firstly, leaders take the lead. That is, they initiate ideas and plans. Secondly, leaders move people to follow them by showing them consideration” (Leighton Ford).

Think Further

Leadership changes have great potential for creating difficulties, whether

in nations, organizations or churches. As the small print in financial adverts says, past

performance is no guarantee of future performance. I knew a school where the head teacher was

very effective and the school did great things for its pupils. Then he moved elsewhere, a new

head arrived and very quickly the school went downhill. Eventually it was merged with another

school and the name changed. The original successful school was only a memory.

So what do you think the Israelites were thinking when Joshua took over from Moses? Were they

excited, thinking that this was going to be the start of even greater things for their people? Or

were they more jaded and cynical, thinking that things had peaked and could only decline

because no one would ever be quite like Moses? This was a testing time for everyone.

When you see a great leader it’s easy to forget that they have not always been that way. There

was a time when they too were unknown. To get to where they are now, somewhere along the

line they had to win their spurs. For Joshua, this was that day (14). But what counted was not the

acclaim of the people—it was the Lord who exalted Joshua. That is always God’s task (Psa.

75:7). Jesus warned about the danger of self-promotion: “Those who exalt themselves will be

humbled” (Matt. 23:12). So beware of leaders who tell you how great they are. And if you’re a

leader, be careful not to start believing your own press releases! What is clear from Joshua is that

he had learned the secret of great leadership. He was obedient and then gave the glory to God

(10,15–17,23,24). Simple!

Leadership changes have great potential for creating difficulties, whether in nations, organizations or churches. As the small print in financial adverts says, past performance is no guarantee of future performance. I knew a school where the head teacher was very effective and the school did great things for its pupils. Then he moved elsewhere, a new head arrived and very quickly the school went downhill. Eventually it was merged with another school and the name changed. The original successful school was only a memory. So what do you think the Israelites were thinking when Joshua took over from Moses? Were they excited, thinking that this was going to be the start of even greater things for their people? Or were they more jaded and cynical, thinking that things had peaked and could only decline because no one would ever be quite like Moses? This was a testing time for everyone. When you see a great leader it’s easy to forget that they have not always been that way. There was a time when they too were unknown. To get to where they are now, somewhere along the line they had to win their spurs. For Joshua, this was that day (14). But what counted was not the acclaim of the people—it was the Lord who exalted Joshua. That is always God’s task (Psa. 75:7). Jesus warned about the danger of self-promotion: “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled” (Matt. 23:12). So beware of leaders who tell you how great they are. And if you’re a
leader, be careful not to start believing your own press releases! What is clear from Joshua is that he had learned the secret of great leadership. He was obedient and then gave the glory to God (10,15–17,23,24). Simple!

Apply

Take a moment to look at “the stones” in your life. Let the memories flood within you. What do these remembrances teach you?

Closing prayer

I thank You, Lord, for past blessings. I would be lost without You. I can look to forward to today, and all my days ahead, be they few or many, assured of Your presence and grace.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

Yesterday’s reading

View all readings

Tomorrow’s reading