Joshua: The Encouraging Leader
Are you an encouraging leader? If you’re not sure, compare yourself to Joshua in this passage from Joshua chapter 17. In this chapter the scenario goes something like this:
Step 1 – Joshua has led the people to great victories and given them land of their own – the promise of God.
Step 2 – The people complain that the land is not good enough for them:
14 Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the Lord has blessed us until now?”
Step 3 – Joshua responds and tells the people that if they are so great, they should go and take the land they want from their enemies (feel the sarcasm):
15 So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”
Step 4 – The people respond to this and say “well wait a minute – those guys are strong, we can’t handle it on our own! I mean, that’s not what we meant Joshua! Come on, man!”:
16 But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.”
Now – stop. What would your “Step 5” be?
I know what most of us would initially be thinking, myself included – “you guys had better figure it out, because I’m not helping you. I already did my part and you guys are ungrateful.”
But Joshua doesn’t do that. Instead, he encourages them:
17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one [f]lot, 18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”
A leader strengthens the faith of his followers by exhibiting his own.
Joshua exemplified this. He was not personally offended by their complaining. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity.
If someone that is following you has a poor outlook or weak faith, don’t give up on them. View it as a discipleship opportunity to challenge them and help them grow.
