Leaders Follow
Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. -Deuteronomy 34:9
Moses has to be one of the most outstanding leaders in the scripture, but Joshua is the guy who blows my mind. For decades Joshua stood by Moses as his second in command. He commanded the armies of the Lord overthrowing nations and still remained loyal to what God was doing and faithful to Moses. This loyalty is unheard of today.
Maximus taught us in Gladiator if you command the army you can over throw Rome, a lesson played out in real life as well as on the big screen. Joshua, the greatest military leader in all of scripture (I would love to see a match up between Joshua and David, each in their prime) displayed his greatest strength in his humility. Great leaders can not help but ask, “what would I do if I was in charge?” Surely throughout the years Joshua had to find himself second guessing Moses. We will never know of the conversations the two had in private and no doubt Moses, like any great leader, listened to his captains, but Joshua always followed. His legacy teaches us…
Great Leaders Follow.
Have you ever taken a strength test? I have taken several and every time I score high in categories like leadership, command, driver, strategist, and discernment. Those test used to puff me up. After reading my results I would think, “I am the man… turn the reins over to me.” Those test while displaying your strengths fail to mention how what is you greatest asset can also be your downfall. Aptitude test for believers are actually revealing two sets of results. They show what you can be like yielded to God’s spirit and what you are like apart from God’s spirit. For instance, I score high on discernment. Yielded to God’s spirit I have a way of seeing past the surface in people and conveying wisdom to what’s really happening in their life. Apart from God’s spirit I see the junk I people’s lives and can take them apart and call them out on the junk none of us want to talk about.
Leadership is the same way. When yielded to the Spirit of God leaders can be a powerful force in building the Church, numb to God’s spirit leaders can be egomaniacal loud mouths (at least that’s what I can tend toward). The greatest strength a leader can have is his ability to follow and wait on God’s timing.
Leaders follow God
No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. Joshua 1:5-7
Joshua was a man yielded to God. All the days of his life he would follow the commands of God and lead the people into the land God had given them. In every season we see Joshua yielded his heart to God and following His will first and foremost.
Leaders follow God’s man
Leaders can not help but think how they would do things if they were in charge. What we do with those feelings is an essential response to God. Moses lived to be 120 years old… Joshua stayed by his side all those years. God’s timing is essential. The average tenure for a youth pastor is around eighteen months. Granted some churches are just messed up, but is there not also an element of leadership apart form God’s spirit playing into this? Do you find yourself sectioned off in your churches criticizing the leadership and thinking, “as long as they don’t mess with my junk then I am fine.”
Moses laid his hands on Joshua and handed Israel off to a man he knew could follow God. Joshua had exhibited this in his yielded heart to God and his faithfulness to Moses. This is how God knew he had the right man for the job. If God has called you to leadership ask yourself, how can I begin this journey by being a good follower?
Scott, it would be interesting to study the churches that are able to retain youth pastors significantly past the average 18 month threshold. Are they being mentored? Given more freedom to grow their youth congregation? Provided greater feedback or reasonable compensation? Remember, to produce greatness we must study those that are great. Studying those that are weak and doing the opposite is ineffective.