What Would Joshua Say to His Younger Self?
Written by Pat Klein
Joshua was aware he was stepping into his destiny. It had been a long time coming!
After many years of watching Moses lead God’s chosen people, he was now their leader. Moses had affirmed him as the next leader. And God, in opening the Jordan River, had decisively affirmed it.
Facing the well-fortified Jericho, Joshua felt the weight of responsibility settle on him. They must not blow it now, as they had forty years earlier …
The images flashed through his memory:
the cruel lashes of their Egyptian owners
Moses showing up, and plague after plague devastating the land
the mighty deliverance through the Red Sea, and soon thereafter receiving the Law at Mount Sinai
arriving at the border of the Promised Land
he and some friends scouting out this amazing prosperous land
Then, unbelievably, unnerved by the tall powerful inhabitants, their old self-identity as weak slaves came rushing back, and their faith in Jehovah evaporated!
How does a leader react when his colleagues shrink back from what he’s convinced is the plan of God for a wonderful victory?
Year after year they’d wandered in the wilderness, sustained by manna, their shoes not wearing out, slowing learning about trusting God. Joshua and Caleb’s contemporaries had all died off and the next generation came of age. Still, they carried on.
Bitter? Jealous? Discouraged? Cynical? There’s no sign of this.
Now Joshua finds himself facing Jericho. The stakes are high! Maybe Joshua felt it was all up to him now. But was it?
I believe God was looking at Joshua’s heart - humble, faithful, soft before Him - and graciously sent a love-gift to his faithful son. Imagine the scene in Joshua 5:13-15.
Joshua looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him,
“Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”
At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command. What do you want your servant to do?”
Reassured that he was working with the commander of the Lord’s army, they followed God’s direction - a most unusual approach for taking a city. He gave them an overwhelming victory. As a result, people throughout the entire land were terrified, expecting they would be next.
Reading on, we follow as Joshua dealt decisively with the sin of Achan - establishing high standards of integrity in this new nation.
We watch him stumble in neglecting to consult the Lord and so succumbing to the deception of the Gibeonites. Then watch as he honored God by honoring the pledge, they’d given to those Gibeonites - even to the point of going to battle to defend them. Which led to the incident of the sun standing still …
What would Joshua say to his younger self?
What would experienced leaders say to younger leaders today?
Maybe things like:
Trust God, no matter what. Life doesn’t go as expected, but God still has a plan. Above all else, guard your heart.
Dear Father,
As I remember all your blessings and your faithfulness in my life,
I whisper again,
“Lord, I love you!”
Please help me, in the midst of myriad responsibilities, to keep my heart soft and trusting toward You.
Thank you that ‘the Lord of heaven’s armies’ is leading my life. Amen
