As a leader, it seams that there are so many responsibilities. Can we take all of those responsibilities and summarize them so that we can have focus and clarity in the main things we are to accomplish? Joshua had the incredible task of leading millions of people into the land promised to them by God. Let’s take a look at what God said was the primary tasks that Joshua was to accomplish.
When God told Moses he would not lead the people of Israel into the promise land, Moses asked the Lord to appoint another leader. God chose Joshua and spoke of two tasks that Joshua would do with the people of Israel. In Num 27:15-21 we find two tasks appointed to Joshua.
Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him… At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”
God gives Joshua two primary tasks as a leader:
- Lead them out
- Lead them in
What does that mean? If he does not perform these two tasks, the people of Israel will be like “like sheep which have no shepherd.” Think of what a shepherd does for sheep. He leads them out into the pasture for the purpose of feeding them. He needs to lead them to different pastures and different streams in order find food and water. Then the shepherd leads them back into a pin of safety and protection.
Joshua was to lead the people out into the promise land in battle in order to fulfill their purpose of occupying the promise land. He was to lead them out in the cause. He was to display physical courage by leading them into battle.
Joshua was then to lead them back into a place of care, safety, and rest. Into a place of community in order to heal their wounds, feed them, give them rest.
The two primary tasks of Joshua and leaders is:
- Lead our people out to enter the Cause.
- Lead our people in for Caring and Community.
As you read the Scriptures, notice how often these two tasks are central to what we should be doing. Here are just a couple.
Philippians 1:3-8
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Notice the balance between living for the cause of Christ and the fellowship of the believers. I love the phrase, “Partnership in the gospel.” It speaks to both cause and community.
Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
The two greatest commandments are love God and love neighbor. We are to follow God in the cause with all that we are and inter into loving community with others.
- Courage in the Cause
- Care in Community
How are you doing in balancing your leadership? Are you leading people in courage out into the cause? Are you leading people into a place of care and community? Think about how you can accomplish these two tasks in your life and leadership.
Dear Father in heaven, strengthen me to lead others out into the cause of Christ and deepen my loving ability to create a community of love and care for one another.
Posted by David 
Commissioned 