Three E's of Leadership
INTRODUCTION
Who will be here in the next fifty years to lead in the Lord’s church? What will the eldership look like across the world of the church? What of her deacons? Who will be standing in the pulpits to proclaim the saving message of Jesus faithfully? Will the church buildings be teeming with life or barely keeping the doors open? Indeed, the unknown of what will happen after we are gone concerns us all. While the church is in no danger of dying (Daniel 2:44), it most definitely could stand to continue its training of current and future leaders. Therefore, the question should not be whether the church will cease to exist, but whether weak leaders make the church’s functionality more difficult, or will strong men stand in the gap and hold the line? While there are numerous angles that we could take and numerous leaders we could consider, we will overview the life of Joshua. His life and leadership training provide three key areas for our consideration.
LEADERSHIP IS ENVIRONMENTAL
When we first meet Joshua, he appears as a military leader, and Moses commands him to “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek” (Exodus 17:9). The first portion of that phrase showcases the environmental aspect of leadership. First, the Israelites' environment was such that a man like Moses could locate Joshua. Moses cultivated a style of leadership that transformed men. When he needed someone, he quickly pinpointed Joshua. Second, not only was Joshua one that Moses could select, but Joshua could also go and pick his own “mighty” men that would oppose Amalek.
How is this possible? From the early stages of Joshua’s development, he was surrounded by God-fearing and faithful leaders within a community governed by Divine Law. This type of environment cultivates reverence, humility, and trust in God. Joshua was allowed to have direct access to the leadership of Moses (Exodus 33:11). He witnessed the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-12), the Red Sea’s parting (Exodus 14), and the giving of the Law at Sinai (Exodus 19-20), he also saw the consequences of the rebellion that occurred in the wilderness generation (Numbers 14). Therefore, leadership is environmental and grows to maturity in spiritually healthy and godly habitats! What should our environments look like for the future leaders occupying our pews? We must intend to cultivate an environment that breeds future leaders like Joshua!
LEADERSHIP IS EDUCATIONAL
There is also a necessary component of education when it comes to leadership. It does not just come about through osmosis. Moses instructed and commissioned Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:7-8) and had him prepared to succeed him when the time came (Numbers 27:18-23). Moses formally transferred responsibility and spiritual leadership when the time was right (Deuteronomy 34:9). We cannot help but wonder how many conversations between Joshua and Moses were formative in Joshua’s future leadership.
Joshua was not just trained by Moses, but had a “leadership curriculum” given by God Himself! Notice Joshua 1:7-8 and how God educates Joshua in the path of leadership.
7Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8This 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 1:7-8 emphasis mine, MJC)
The Hebrew word for “law” is [תּוֹרָ֨ה], which means “direction, instruction, law,” and from which we get the word “Torah” for the first five books of the Law in the Old Testament. Joshua did not get his strength in leadership from his strong military background, but from his adherence to God and His instruction. The word “meditate” is [הָגִ֤יתָ], and it conveys the idea of not just a silent reflection but vocalizing the Word of God and letting it shape Joshua’s thoughts and decisions. How can we train the proper leaders that God wants in His Kingdom today? By educating them in the Word of God and encouraging them to meditate in His Word day and night! I believe that all Elders, Deacons, and Preachers may benefit far better by a formal education in the Word of God than just a simple overview before a sermon, meeting, or work event. Can you help the Kingdom further by setting someone on the path to leadership and encouraging them to receive proper training? After all, how can we properly train others on the path that God would have them take if we have not been properly trained?
LEADERSHIP IS EXPERIENTIAL
Finally, leadership requires a hands-on approach to be genuinely beneficial. This was the mode of training that benefited Joshua more significantly than anything else. It is great to have an environment of leaders and to be able to receive training on how leadership should behave, but there is something to be said about the actual hands-on approach that leaders need to take the next step! Joshua led troops into battle (Exodus 17:9-13), remained firm when others were cowering (Numbers 14:6-10), and then eventually assumed the command of Israel’s conquest of Canaan (Joshua 1-12). His leadership was not a hypothetical one but instead one that was proven in the field.
His experience was also one that did not shield him from hardship. God did not keep Joshua wrapped up in bubble wrap, but strengthened him through the hardship. The Hebrew word for courage in Joshua 1:6-9 is [אֱמָ֔ץ], and it implies an idea of physical and moral fortitude. This is not a motivational phrase for Joshua to proverbially hang in his office on a poster, but an imperative to spiritual leadership. This caused Joshua to depend on God in real-time. He relied on him when it came to all of Jericho (Joshua 6), the sin of Achan (Joshua 7), and even the deception of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9). Each situation allowed him to take the education that he had received and put it to good use! We need to enable men today to experience the same thing. Not just once in a blue moon, but regularly. While taking the pulpit away from the hired preachers regularly is not feasible, can we not cultivate a Wednesday night rotational devotional that would give these young men the experience they desire and need to serve the Kingdom better? We cannot just hope that the young man sitting in the pew will magically want to be trained to be in the pulpit. Nor can we expect the same to happen with our future elders or deacons without further training of those next in line.
CONCLUSION
We need more leaders like Joshua, trained not only in the theological realms of the Bible but also in the realms of sacrifice and service. Joshua was shaped by his environment, education, and experience, and we, too, must invest in these three aspects in training the future leaders in our congregations. Godly leadership is not the product of popularity or personal ambition. Leaders are trained, and when they are, the Kingdom is strengthened. What will we do to ensure we are fulfilling our part in bringing future leaders to the Kingdom today?