Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others to follow his or her lead. Famous leaders have always known this.
The great military leader Bernard Montgomery spoke of leadership in these terms: “Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose, and the character which inspires confidence.” An outstanding example of this statement was Sir Winston Churchill….
Fleet Admiral Nimitz said: “Leadership may be defined as that quality that inspires sufficient confidence in subordinates as to be willing to accept his views and carry out his commands.”
General Charles Gordon once asked Li Hung Chang, a leader in China, two questions: “What is leadership? And how is humanity divided?” Li Hung replied: “There are only three kinds of people – those who are immovable, those who are movable and those who move them!”
John R. Mott, a world leader in student circles, believed that “a leader is a man who knows the road, who can keep ahead, and who pulls others after him.”
President Harry S. Truman (1945-53) said cogently: “A leader is a person who has the ability to get others to do what they don’t want to do, and like it.” (Spiritual Leadership, pp. 27-28)
Joshua was God’s chosen man to succeed Moses and to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. His task would be to rally the people to his side, then to move them out into this new endeavor. To take the immovable, make them movable, and then move them! This of course would not be an easy task and he knew it.
As he thought of the responsibility and the enormity of the task – he must have wondered if he was the right man for the job and had the right stuff to be the leader of this rag-tag group of people.
Knowing what Joshua was thinking and that Joshua needed to be encouraged, the Lord gives Joshua a pep talk if you will. A “pep talk” recorded for us in Joshua 1:1-9. This pep talk was intended to encourage and reassure Joshua, to let him know that he was indeed the right man for the job.
In His pep talk, the Lord did two things, first, He reaffirmed His promises (v.2-6) – the promise of the land, the promise of victory, the promise of presence and protection, and the promise of possession – second, He revealed to Joshua the key to success (v.7-9). The key to success would be obedience to the word.
Now as we approach v.10-18 it is Joshua’s turn to do some encouraging, to give a pep talk. Just as there was uncertainty with Joshua, there was uncertainty with the people, they needed to be reassured and encouraged as well. Joshua directs his charge / words of encouragement to two specific groups of people, (1) The Nation’s Elders; (2) The tribes of Rueben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh.
Joshua’s Charge to the Elders – v.10-11
This charge is a charge to prepare.
Joshua 1:10-11
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'" NAS
The word “then” connects this passage to the previous passage. In other words, after Joshua was encouraged by the Lord, he immediately went out to encourage the people.
The phrase officers of the people, is a reference to the civilian leaders i.e. the elders. We first meet these men in Exodus 18:13-27. Soon after leaving Egypt, Moses found himself spending all of his time and energy, judging disputes, explaining God’s law and mediating between God and the people.
His father-in-law Jethro arrived with Moses’ wife and sons and immediately recognized that there was a potential problem (18:13-18). Moses was in danger of wearing himself out because of the system and structure that was in place. So Jethro suggested that Moses select several special men to assist him in ministering to the people (18:19-27).
These were not to be just any men, but specially qualified men (18:21). They were to be,
o able men (skilled)
o men who fear God (spiritual)
o men of truth (scriptural)
o those who hate dishonest gain (separated)
In Numbers 11:16-17 the Lord Himself confirmed the use of this type of leadership structure.
Numbers 11:16-17
16 The LORD therefore said to Moses, "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you shall not bear it all alone. NAS
Notice how these men were to help Moses bear the burden of the people so that Moses did not have to bear it all alone (v.17). In the same way the “officers of the people” were to assist Joshua in preparing and leading the people into the Promised Land (some have suggested that there were upwards of two million Israelites by now).
Joshua needed help in encouraging the people so he speaks to the officers and then the officers are to speak to the people. In fact notice that in……
o v.9 – God instructs Joshua
o v.10 – Joshua instructs the officers
o v.11 – The officers are to instruct the people
What are the officers to encourage the people to do? Prepare themselves for the crossing of the Jordan River and then into the land to possess it. Specifically, they were to prepare provisions for yourselves which no doubt included food and the other daily necessities of life.
In modern armies the quartermaster corps sees to it that each soldier has the necessary provisions, but with Israel, each family and clan had to provide for those things. Remember that the manna is still falling and would continue to do so until Israel was in the land and able to live off the fruit of the land (Joshua 5:10-12). Until then they had to be prepared.
“for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land”
The phrase, “within three days” has been problematic for some because it appears that it actually took about six day to cross the Jordan (Joshua 2:22; 3:2). Several attempts have been made to solve this seeming discrepancy.
Some have argued that the term “three days” is an idiomatic phrase that means “in a few days” (cf. Joshua 9:16).
Some argue that Joshua is simply estimating when they would cross the Jordan and since he did not anticipate the three day delay of the spies it actually took six. In other words, the mission of the spies delayed the original plans.
A third view states that the spies were sent out prior to v.1:11 and that the account in chapter 2 is parenthetical. The statement of v.3:2 then is synonymous with the command of 1:11. In this case, the crossing did actually occur within three days (see Paul Enns, Joshua: Bible Study Commentary, pp. 27).
We shouldn’t be afraid of Bible difficulties because there are always good sound solutions to be found. 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that “all scripture is given by inspiration.” In the midst of the unclear we don’t want to miss what is clear – the words of encouragement and assurance (v.11).
"Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'"
Forty years earlier, Joshua and Caleb had tried to encourage the previous generation – but they would not listen nor believe.
Numbers 13:30-33
30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us." 32 So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. 33 There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight." NAS
Numbers 14:6-10
6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; 7 and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, "The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us-- a land which flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they shall be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." 10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel. NAS
Now, that generation was gone and it was time for this generation to believe God and move forward. It’s unfortunate but true that sometimes the only way God’s work can move forward is by the conducting of a few funerals.
Warren Wiersbe tells the story of a pastor friend of his who…..
….pleaded with his church board to build a new educational plant to house an exploding Sunday School. One of the long-time members of the board, a prominent business man in the city, said to him, “You’ll do this over my dead body!” And they did! A few days later, that officer had a heart attack and died; and the church moved ahead and built the much-needed educational plant.
Wiersbe goes on to say,
The older we get, the more danger there is that we’ll get set in our ways and become “sanctified obstructionists”; but it doesn’t have to happen. Caleb and Joshua were the oldest men in the camp, and yet they were enthusiastic about trusting God and entering the land. It isn’t matter of age; it’s a matter of faith; and faith comes from meditating on the Word of God (1:8; Rom. 10:17). How I thank God for the “senior saints” who have been a part of my ministry and have encouraged me to trust the Lord and move forward. (Be Strong, pp. 30)
So Joshua challenged the people to move forward in faith, to prepare themselves to go in and possess their possessions and he did through the Elders of the people.
Now, Joshua is going to challenge a specific group of Israelites in v.12-15.
Joshua’s Charge to the 2 ½ tribes – v.12-15
This charge is a charge to remember.
Joshua 1:12-15
12 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.' 14 "Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise. " NAS
To understand the context of this charge we need to get a little background information (Numbers 32:1-42; Deuteronomy 2:26-3:20).
The tribes being addressed had already determined to remain on the east side of the Jordan (also called the Transjordan). This land had been conquered first and was ideal for grazing and feeding. Because these tribes had large numbers of livestock they asked Moses to give them this land as their inheritance. Moses acceded to their request but only if they agreed to certain conditions. The main condition being that they must fight alongside their brothers until the land west of the Jordan (also called the Cisjordan) was conquered, then and only then could they return to their families and their land to enjoy their inheritance or rest (v. 15a).
So, while Joshua charged the people in general through the Elders to prepare, he is charging the 2 ½ tribes specifically here to remember. Remember the promise they made to Moses and follow through. In fact, Joshua 1:13-15 is a direct quote of Deut. 3:18-20 (which suggests that Joshua already had access to a written document possibly the “Book of the Law”).
Joshua wanted the nation of Israel to remain united together in their conquest of the land. If they were to accomplish the possession of the land as God intended, everyone needed to be involved in the work.
There is a lesson here about our mutual responsibility to help each other to claim their inheritance (see the “one anothers” in the New Testament). We need to make sure that we don’t get to the point where we think we have arrived spiritually, and we must not think that we are no longer needed in the body. There is the danger for us of becoming borderline members out on the edges of the Promised Land (Joshua 22:10-34), never making the effort to belong to the church. Instead, we become casual attenders missing the blessing of accountability and mutual encouragement.
Interestingly there was some common sense applied to how this was carried out. In the nation of Israel only men who were 20 years and older went out to war (Num. 1:3). Out of the 136,930 men available from the 2 ½ tribes (Num. 26:7, 18, 34) only 40,000 actually crossed the Jordan to fight in the Promised Land (Josh. 4:13).
Obviously, the rest stayed behind to protect the women and children and the cities and land that had already been captured (Num. 32:1-5, 16-19). It was only when the 40,000 soldiers returned home that all could fully share in their inheritance (Josh. 22:6-8).
The Encouragement of Joshua, by the People – v.16-18
Joshua 1:16-18
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 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. 18 Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous." NAS
Who does they refer to? Some say the officers (v.10-11), some say the 2 ½ tribes (v.12-15), some say both. Clearly to me, both groups are in mind. These two groups, possibly along with the rest of the people, joined together to affirm their loyalty to Joshua. Their response is warm and enthusiastic and it serves to give encouragement back to Joshua (hence mutual encouragement).
They encouraged Joshua by doing three things.
(1) They affirmed their cooperation – v.16-17a
"All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go”
They had no hidden agendas and they asked for no concessions. They promised to obey all of his commands and to go wherever he would send them. Often times we are asked to do something that we don’t want to do, but because the leader asks us to do it we do it out of a spirit of cooperation. Nothing is more discouraging to a leader than uncooperative people!
Someone in one of the books I read pointed out ironically that the next lines may have not been so encouraging to Joshua.
“Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you”
David Howard writes,
There is no indication in the text that the people were anything but sincere in their words. However, the Israelites had been a very disobedient people over the years, despite earlier promises to obey. For example, when Moses brought them the laws that God had given him and read from the Book of the Covenant, they had solemnly sworn obedience, saying, “Everything the LORD has said we will do” and “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey” (Exod. 24:3,7). Yet, within a very short time, Aaron was leading the people in building a golden calf (Exod 32); and the Israelites’ subsequent history is replete with examples of complaining, rebellion, and outright disobedience. So, we must wonder about the people’s words here. If their promise was to obey Joshua in the same way they had obeyed Moses, the prospects were not as bright as they may first appear, since, of course, they did not “fully obey” Moses (Joshua: NAC, pp. 94).Cooperation is the key to mutual encouragement. Not only did they affirm their cooperation but they also affirmed their care and concern.
(2) They affirmed their care and concern – v.17b
There are several ways to look at the phrase, “only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses”
Some see the phrase as a condition of cooperation. “We will cooperate with you and obey you only if the Lord God is with you as He was with Moses.”
Others see it as a blessing or wish (as it is translated in the NASB), “only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.” Understood this way, the phrase is a prayer.
Still others see it as an affirmation of fact, “only the Lord God will be with you as He was with Moses.” Moses is mentioned twice in their response (v.17) because they are affirming that Joshua is indeed Moses’ successor, in their eyes he has now fully assumed the mantle of leadership.
Which view is the right view is not clear, however the first view doesn’t fit the context of full cooperation. In the end, the NASB probably has it right.
As someone has said,
The best thing that we can do for those who lead us is to pray for them daily and ask God to be with them. Joshua was a trained man with vast experience, but that was no guarantee of success. No Christian worker succeeds to the glory of God apart from prayer. “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” asked Corrie Ten Boom, a question that especially applies to those in places of leadership. When Joshua did not pause to seek the mind of God, he failed miserably (Josh 7 and 9); and so will we (Be Strong, pp. 32).The people encouraged Joshua by affirming their cooperation, by affirming their care and concern and by affirming their commitment.
(3) They affirmed their commitment – v.18
The people took Joshua’s leadership seriously, and they took their responsibility seriously as well.
“Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous”
The phrase “shall be put to death” is a powerful statement of commitment.
If God’s people today saw obedience to Christ a matter of life or death, it would make a big difference in our ministry to a lost world. We obey the Lord’s orders if we feel like it, if it’s convenient, and if we can get something out of it. With soldiers like that, Joshua would never have conquered the Promised Land!” (Be Strong, pp. 33)This the fourth time in this chapter Joshua has been encouraged to be strong and courageous (v.6, 7, 9, 18). When you read the rest of the book you discover that Joshua obviously got the message.
Note the process of mutual encouragement….
o Leaders are encouraged by the Word
o Leaders encourage the people through exhortation and instruction
o The people encourage the leader through their cooperation, care and concern and commitment
This is how it should work in the church. What part of the process are you in? Are you doing your part?
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