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Joshua's Profile
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One of the greatest challenges facing leaders is to replace
themselves, training others to become leaders. Many outstanding accomplishments
have been started by someone with great ability whose life or career ended
before the vision became reality. The fulfillment of that dream then became the
responsibility of that person's successor. Death is the ultimate deadline for
leadership. One of the best tests of our leadership is our willingness and
ability to train another for our position.
Moses made an excellent decision when he chose Joshua as his
assistant. That choice was later confirmed by God himself when he instructed
Moses to commission Joshua as his successor (Numbers 27:15-23). Joshua had
played a key role in the exodus from Egypt. Introduced as the field general of
Israel's army, he was the only person allowed to accompany Moses partway up the
mountain when Moses received the law. Joshua and Caleb were the only two among
the 12 spies to bring back an encouraging report after being sent into the
promised land the first time. Other references show him to have been Moses'
constant shadow. His basic training was living with Moses - experiencing
firsthand what it meant to lead God's people. This was modeling at its best!
Who is your Moses? Who is your Joshua? You are part of the chain of
God's ongoing work in the world. You are modeling yourself after others, and
others are patterning their lives after you. How important is God to those you
want to be like? Do those who are watching you see God reflected in every area
of your life? Ask God to lead you to a trustworthy Moses. Ask him to make you a
good Joshua.
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Joshua's Strengths and Accomplishments
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* Moses' assistant and successor
* One of only two adults who experienced Egyptian slavery and lived to enter the
promised land
* Led the Israelites into their God-given homeland
* Brilliant military strategist
* Faithful to ask God's direction in the challenges he faced
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Lessons from Joshua's Life
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* Effective leadership is often the product of good preparation and
encouragement
* The persons after whom we pattern ourselves will have a definite effect on us
* A person committed to God provides the best model for us
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Joshua's Vital Statistics
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* Where: Egypt, the Desert of Sinai, and Canaan (the promised land)
* Occupations: Special assistant to Moses, warrior, leader
* Relative: Father: Nun
* Contemporaries: Moses, Caleb, Miriam, Aaron
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Key Verses
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"Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before
Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and
commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses" (Numbers 27:22, 23).
Joshua is also mentioned in Exodus 17:9-14; 24:13; 32:17; 33:11; Numbers
11:28; 13; 14; 26:65; 27:18-23; 32:11-12, 28; 34:17; Deuteronomy 1:38; 3:21, 28;
31:3, 7, 14, 23; 34:9; the book of Joshua; Judges 2:6-9; and 1st Kings 16:34.