Lesson 1
Called to Lead
(JOSHUA 1)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Joshua 1. This lesson references chapter 2 in Be Strong. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
Twice during my years of ministry, I’ve been chosen to succeed distinguished and godly leaders and carry on their work. I can assure you that it wasn’t easy to follow well-known Christians who sacrificially poured years of their lives into successful ministries. I can identify with Joshua when he stepped into Moses’ sandals and discovered how big they were!
When I succeeded D. B. Eastep as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Covington, Kentucky, I remember how his widow and his son encouraged me and assured me of their support. I recall one of the deacons, George Evans, coming to the church office to tell me he would do anything to help me, “including washing your car and polishing your shoes.” I never asked George to do either of those things, but his words expressed the encouraging attitude of all the church staff and leaders. I felt like a raw recruit taking the place of a seasoned veteran, and I needed all the help I could get! …
What a new leader needs is not advice but encouragement. “To encourage” literally means “to put heart into.” General Andrew Jackson said “one man with courage makes a majority,” and he was right. As God’s people today face the challenges that God gives us, we would do well to learn from the threefold encouragement found in this chapter.
—Be Strong, pages 29–30
1. What encouragement does Joshua get in this first chapter? How is this same encouragement applicable to today’s leaders?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Joshua 1 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
Leaders don’t lead forever, even godly leaders like Moses. There comes a time in every ministry when God calls for a new beginning with a new generation and new leadership. Except for Joshua and Caleb, the old generation of Jews had perished during the nation’s wanderings in the wilderness, and Joshua was commissioned to lead the new generation into a new challenge: entering and conquering the Promised Land. “God buries His workmen, but His work goes on.” It was God who had chosen Joshua, and everybody in Israel knew that he was their new leader.
Over the years I’ve seen churches and parachurch ministries flounder and almost destroy themselves in futile attempts to embalm the past and escape the future. Their theme song was, “As it was in the beginning, so shall it ever be, world without end.” Often I’ve prayed with and for godly Christian leaders who were criticized, persecuted, and attacked simply because, like Joshua, they had a divine commission to lead a ministry into new fields of conquest, but the people would not follow. More than one pastor has been offered as a sacrificial lamb because he dared to suggest that the church make some changes.
—Be Strong, page 30
3. What does Joshua 1 have to say about new leadership? What are the challenges Joshua faced as he became a new leader? How are these like or unlike the challenges new leaders encounter today? How did Joshua approach his new role?
From the Commentary
A wise leader doesn’t completely abandon the past but builds on it as he or she moves toward the future. Moses is mentioned fifty-seven times in the book of Joshua, evidence that Joshua respected Moses and what he had done for Israel. Joshua worshipped the same God that Moses had worshipped, and he obeyed the same Word that Moses had given to the nation. There was continuity from one leader to the next, but there wasn’t always conformity, for each leader is different and must maintain his or her individuality. Twice in these verses Moses is called God’s servant, but Joshua was also the servant of God (24:29). The important thing is not the servant but the Master.
—Be Strong, page 31
4. How did Joshua honor both Moses and God in his new role as leader? What are the risks and dangers of not showing honor to a previous leader? Explain.
More to Consider: In Joshua 1:1, Joshua is called “Moses’ aide” (NIV) or “Moses’ minister” (KJV). What’s the significance of mentioning Joshua’s title? (See Ex. 24:13; 33:11; Num. 11:28; Deut. 1:38.)
From the History Books
One of the most well-known military leaders in U.S. history is General George S. Patton. While highly regarded for his leadership during World War II, he was also quite a controversial figure. His no-nonsense style of leadership was lauded by many but questioned by others who decried his lack of compassion for soldiers suffering from battle fatigue. He was a bold, colorful figure who thought highly of himself and had little patience but ended up earning many awards for his military service.
5. What made Patton a great leader? What is it about leaders like Patton that intrigues us? How does a leader like Patton compare with leaders in the biblical narrative, such as Joshua? How do today’s military leaders compare and contrast with Joshua? What lessons could today’s leaders take from Joshua?
From the Commentary
God commissioned Joshua to achieve three things: lead the people into the land, defeat the enemy, and claim the inheritance. God could have sent an angel to do this, but He chose to use a man and give him the power he needed to get the job done. As we have already seen, Joshua is a type of Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10), who has won the victory and now shares His spiritual inheritance with us.
—Be Strong, page 32
6. Read Joshua 1:3–6. What are the three promises God gives Joshua? What is significant about the fact that God doesn’t offer explanations for His plans? What role does faith play in this interaction between God and Joshua? How does it apply to leadership today?
From the Commentary
Before God could fulfill His promises, however, Joshua had to exercise faith and “be strong and of a good courage” (1:6). Divine sovereignty is not a substitute for human responsibility. God’s sovereign Word is an encouragement to God’s servants to believe God and obey His commands. As Charles Spurgeon put it in the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Joshua “was not to use the promise as a couch upon which his indolence might luxuriate, but as a girdle wherewith to gird up his loins for future activity.” In short, God’s promises are prods, not pillows.
—Be Strong, page 34
7. What did it mean that Joshua needed to be “strong and courageous”? What obstacles could he have expected to face as he followed God’s commands? How did Joshua take hold of God’s promises? How do believers hold on to God’s promises today?
From the Commentary
It’s one thing to say to a leader, “Be strong! Be very courageous!” and quite something else to enable him to do it. Joshua’s strength and courage would come from meditating on the Word of God, believing its promises, and obeying its precepts. This was the counsel Moses had given to all the people (Deut. 11:1–9), and now God was applying it specifically to Joshua.
—Be Strong, pages 34–35
8. Read Joshua 1:7–8. What is the encouragement from God’s written Word that Joshua could count on? What is our encouragement from God’s written Word today? How do we receive that encouragement?
More to Consider: Read Luke 1:37. How are Gabriel’s words to Mary similar to God’s words to Joshua? How do we embrace the truth of God’s commands today?
From the Commentary
Though he trusted God for a miracle, Joshua still had to prepare for the everyday necessities of life. In modern armies the Quartermaster Corps sees to it that the soldiers have food and other necessities of life, but Israel didn’t have a Quartermaster Corps. Each family and clan had to provide its own food. The manna was still falling each morning (Ex. 16) and wouldn’t stop until Israel was in their land (Josh. 5:11–12). But it was important that the people stayed strong because they were about to begin a series of battles for possession of their Promised Land.
—Be Strong, page 37
9. What did Joshua say to his leaders? What does this tell us about his confidence in God’s promises? What does it tell us about the role of leaders in encouraging others?
From the Commentary
The pronoun “they” in Joshua 1:16–18 probably refers to all the officers Joshua had addressed and not to the leaders of the two and a half tribes alone. What an encouragement they were to their new leader!
To begin with, they encouraged him by assuring him of their complete obedience (vv. 16–17a). “Command us and we will obey! Send us and we will go!” These officers had no hidden agendas, and they asked for no concessions. They would obey all his commands and go wherever he would send them. We could use that kind of commitment in the church today! Too many times we are like the men described in Luke 9:57–62, each of whom put something personal ahead of following the Lord.…
They encouraged Joshua by assuring him that their obedience was a matter of life or death (v. 18). They took his leadership and their responsibilities seriously.…
Finally, they encouraged him by reminding him of the Word of God (v. 18b). Moses told Joshua to “be ye of good courage” when he sent him and the other men into Canaan to spy out the land (Num. 13:20).
—Be Strong, pages 39–40
10. Why was encouragement from Joshua’s officers significant to his leadership ability? What does it say about Joshua? About the people he surrounded himself with to help him lead? What does this tell us about leadership today?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Joshua 1. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. Have you ever taken over a leadership position from someone else? If so, what was that experience like? How did you honor the previous leader? How did you establish yourself as the new leader? What challenges did you face? How did you respond to those challenges?
12. What are the sources you turn to for support when called to take on a new responsibility? Where do you find encouragement? How do you deal with discouragement? What role does God’s Word play in your leadership development?
13. What are ways you encourage other leaders today? How does this affect your relationship with those leaders? How can your encouragement help other leaders succeed? Why is this important?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you need to learn how to trust God’s promises? Do you want to learn how to be a more encouraging leader? Be specific. Go back through Joshua 1 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: Consider the areas of your life where you’re called to be a leader. This might be at work, home, church, or in other areas. It might be formal leadership or just taking initiative to get something done. Take a few minutes to evaluate your leadership in each arena. How are you being encouraged? How are you encouraging others? What role does God’s Word play in your leadership? How are you trusting God’s promises? As you evaluate all of these areas, look for opportunities for improvement and commit to making those changes.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve noted above. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Joshua 2—4. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapters 3 and 4, “A Convert in Canaan” and “Forward by Faith,” in Be Strong.