“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”
(Joshua 1:1-3)
The life of Joshua is an excellent example of what it means to develop a leadership that conquers. However, it wasn’t the easiest scenario, Joshua had to replace Moses, who was probably one of the most influential leaders in the history of the Israelite people, and in addition to that, he had to introduce the people into the promised land.
From his life, we can learn valuable principles that will help us develop outstanding leadership.
1. Having the hearth of a servant
Notice that the verse begins by saying, “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant.” God’s servant was Moses, but the one that served Moses was Joshua. Those who desire to be leaders must first be servants.
2. We must have a purpose
The Lord told Joshua; “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.”
Joshua was not assigned as the leader to glorify himself but to fulfill the purpose God had; conquering earth. A leader that conquers is a leader with a purpose.
3. We must be ready
“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”
Treading upon is the easy part, but doing it includes evicting giants and enemy armies. If Joshua hadn’t been preparing for his entire life, he wouldn’t have been able to be a conquering leader.
4. Being diligent
“Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”
Being diligent is doing what God expects of us, in the best way possible, without removing and without adding to it. Joshua didn’t wait; he didn’t hesitate; rather he was available and willing to conquer.
When Joshua began the conquest, God gave him another word to direct his leadership.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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)
5. Being obedient
A leader that conquers is solely guided by what is written in the Bible. Thereby it says “that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”
6. Meditating on the word
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night…For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
The only way for us to obtain a Leadership that conquers is by investing our life into studying, understanding, declaring, and applying what the Bible says.
