The Art of Following: The Key to Effective Leadership
Joshua 1:6(ESV)
6Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
Joshua: A Leader’s Journey to Strength and Courage
After Moses died, Joshua became the leader of Israel, tasked with bringing the people into the Promised Land. Imagine filling Moses’ shoes—what a challenge! But God didn’t leave Joshua to do it alone. In Joshua 1:6-9, God gave him clear instructions: “Be strong and courageous” (v. 6), “Be strong and very courageous” (v. 7), and again, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened” (v. 9). These weren’t just encouraging words; they were commands to rely on God’s strength for leadership.
So, where would Joshua find this strength? God told him: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (v. 8). Thinking deeply about God’s Word was the key to Joshua’s strength and success.
Joshua’s story shows us the importance of obeying and depending on God. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” By focusing on God’s Word, Joshua found the courage and strength to lead Israel. His journey teaches us that true leadership comes from humility and following God. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” This reminds us to follow Jesus, the ultimate leader.
As we move forward, let’s remember Joshua’s example. Be strong and courageous. Rely not on your own efforts. Instead, depend on the strength found in God’s Word and presence. By doing so, you’ll find that the best leaders are those who follow Jesus Christ.
The Secret of True Strength
Amidst God’s commands to Joshua, He gave him a crucial directive that was the key to his leadership success: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8, ESV). This wasn’t just a suggestion; it was the secret to Joshua’s inner strength and courage.
Joshua wasn’t expected to rely on physical might or conventional wisdom. Instead, God pointed him to the transformative power of His Word. Joshua immersed himself in Scripture. He found the strength necessary for the monumental task of leading Israel into the Promised Land. The strength he needed wasn’t about physical prowess. It wasn’t about strategic brilliance. It was about spiritual depth and reliance on God’s promises.
In our journey, like Joshua, we find that the secret to true strength and courage lies in God’s Word. It’s not about self-help techniques or motivational speeches but about allowing Scripture to shape our thoughts and actions. As we meditate on God’s Word, we are equipped to face life’s challenges with confidence and resolve.
This principle resonates with the reformed faith, which emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture. As we follow this example, we learn that true leadership and strength are rooted in humility and submission to God. Just as Paul urged, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1, ESV), we are reminded that the best leaders are those who follow Jesus, the ultimate Leader. So, be strong and courageous, not by your own might, but through the strength found in God’s Word and presence.
The response of the People
After receiving God’s commands, Joshua stepped up to rally the Israelites, and their response was nothing short of remarkable. They answered him with powerful words of commitment: “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go… Only be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:16, 18 ESV).
What’s fascinating here is how the people’s response creates this beautiful echo of God’s original words to Joshua. It’s like a divine conversation coming full circle – God speaks courage into Joshua, and the people reflect it right back. They pledged, “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!” (Joshua 1:17 ESV).
This moment reveals something profound about leadership in God’s kingdom. The people realized that Joshua’s strength wasn’t based on his abilities. It didn’t depend on his charisma either. His strength came directly from his obedience to God’s commands. Their willingness to follow Joshua was actually a reflection of their faith in God Himself. They understood that courage grounded in faithfulness would be the key to their victory.
By echoing heaven’s mandate back to Joshua, the people created this incredible harmony between divine calling and human support. They weren’t just making empty promises; they were so committed that they added, “Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:18 ESV). Talk about being all in! The people recognized the divine stamp on Joshua’s leadership and stood ready to follow him whether into battle or peace.
Encounter with the Divine Commander
Here’s a powerful moment that really captures the heart of biblical leadership:
Picture Joshua standing near Jericho, probably sizing up those massive walls, when suddenly he encounters an armed figure. Instead of backing down, Joshua boldly approaches and asks, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua 5:13 ESV). The response he gets completely flips the script: “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come” (Joshua 5:14 ESV).
This wasn’t just any warrior. It was the Angel of the Lord. This figure is widely understood to be Christ Himself appearing before His incarnation. His answer reveals something profound about leadership. It’s not about getting God to sign off on our plans. It’s about aligning ourselves with His divine purpose.
The real question wasn’t whether God was on Joshua’s side – it was whether Joshua was on God’s side. Joshua gets it immediately. In a beautiful act of submission, he falls face-down and asks, “What does my lord say to his servant?” (Joshua 5:14 ESV). This moment perfectly captures key aspects of the reformed faith. It emphasizes our complete dependence on God’s sovereignty. It also highlights the supreme authority of His Word in guiding our lives.
Again we remember what Paul would later write, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV). The message is clear – true strength in leadership doesn’t come from pushing our own agenda but from humbly submitting to God’s will. When you’re facing your own Jericho walls today, remember Joshua’s example. Real courage isn’t found in having all the answers, but in knowing Who to ask for direction.
Leadership as Followership
Christian leadership isn’t about making God a co-pilot in our plans, but about recognizing Christ as the Captain of the Lord’s host, the one who commands and directs. Joshua’s story clearly indicates that the best leader is first a follower—a follower of Christ. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
When Joshua encountered the Angel of the Lord, he didn’t assert his own authority. Instead, he fell on his face in worship, asking, “What does my lord say to his servant?” (Joshua 5:14, ESV). This moment captures the essence of true Christian leadership: aligning ourselves with God’s plans rather than expecting Him to endorse ours. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) reinforces this by urging us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Joshua’s encounter exemplifies a profound truth central to the reformed faith: true strength comes through submission to God’s sovereignty. As Paul later writes, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, ESV). Leadership in God’s kingdom means following Christ so closely that you lead others to Him. By meditating on His Word and submitting fully to His will, we find the courage and strength needed for any challenge. This is the heart of true Christian leadership—being a follower of Christ first and foremost.
The Power of Godly Obedience
Joshua’s journey illuminates a profound truth about Christian leadership: true strength flows from complete dependence on God. As captured in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” leadership finds its foundation in Scripture and submission to divine authority.
The essence of courage in leadership isn’t the absence of fear, but moving forward in faith despite our fears. As Isaiah 41:10 assures us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This promise transforms how we approach leadership challenges. We’re not called to drum up courage on our own—God both commands and provides it.
Christian leadership isn’t about drafting God into our plans or asking Jesus to join our army. Instead, it’s about ensuring we’re aligned with His divine strategy and enlisted in His army. As Solomon wisely counsels, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, ESV). Christ isn’t seeking CEOs to partner with—He’s looking for servants who’ll follow His lead wholeheartedly.
Just as Joshua faced his Jericho, we’ll encounter our own walls. I do not believe this is reading ourselves into the text either. We all have challenges that we face that are often specific to us. The same God who commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous speaks that word over us today. This strength comes through consistent meditation on God’s Word day and night (Joshua 1:8) and complete submission to His lordship. Whether leading in ministry, family life, or any other arena, we must recognize that Christ leads us into every battle we face.
Jesus’s words in Matthew 16:24 set our marching orders clearly: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” This self-denial and submission to Christ’s lordship becomes the wellspring of true leadership strength. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”—not through self-reliance, but through complete dependence on God.
When we grasp this beautiful paradox—that the most effective leaders are first and foremost followers of Christ—we begin to understand what it truly means to be strong and courageous in the Lord. As we align ourselves with His plans and follow the true Commander of the Lord’s army, we’ll find ourselves equipped to lead others into their own promised lands, all for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28).