Joshua's Model of Leadership

-
JOSHUA PUBLICLY RECOGNIZES OBEDIENT SERVICE

The tribes of Israel and their cities are set within geographical boundaries with Joshua settling a measure of dispute in the assignments (Joshua 13-21:45). Joshua has a special word for the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, noting their obedience to Moses, the servant of the Lord, as well as to himself, even keeping the LORD’s charge to them (22:2-3). There is no record that any other person or tribe received this kind of recognition in this context, but Joshua saw their long-standing obedience and made their example evident to the other tribes.

JOSHUA PUBLICLY REWARDS OBEDIENT SERVICE

Joshua blesses Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh (22:6-7) as he did Caleb (14:13). This blessing made these tribes conspicuous among the other tribes, especially the half tribe of Manasseh who returned to their land with the spoils of their enemies (22:8). There is no record that any other person or tribe in this context received this kind of response, but Joshua blessed them and made their example evident to the other tribes.

JOSHUA PUBLICLY REINFORCES OBEDIENT SERVICE

Joshua, now advanced in years, calls for Israel’s tribal chiefs in order to reinforce both the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience in their hearing (Joshua 23). That he begins with reminders of what they had seen concerning “all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you” (23:3) suggests these elders, judges, and officers are also in their elder years as well. His final words to them here imply that they will act as influencers, serving their tribes with the view to “be courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses” (23:6) and to “hold fast to the LORD your God” (23:8) and do not serve other gods (23:7, 16). This reinforcement to obedience applies to everyone.

JOSHUA PUBLICLY REHEARSES OBEDIENT SERVICE

Joshua summons all tribes and their representatives to Shechem, the location where Abraham received the first promise from God, “to your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12:6; Joshua 24). Here, on the stage of this physical, geographical reminder, Joshua rehearses the history of God’s fulfillment, even protection, of His promise to Abraham through their present time and situation. Joshua, starting from the father of Abraham, reviews the story behind their inheritance that echoes with themes of obedient service (24:2-13). It should not go without notice that details of the decades of indentured service of Jacob and his sons on various levels are not mentioned, nor the 400 years of captivity; however, the end result of their literal service culminates as indirect examples of obedience.

JOSHUA PUBLICLY RALLIES OBEDIENT SERVICE

“Serve the LORD!” (24:14) is the challenge Joshua presents to the people. “Serve Him in sincerity and truth.” Joshua’s challenge is not to be taken lightly, providing the people with the consequences of disobedience; however, he makes plain there is no middle ground. He makes His position clear: “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (24:15).

Popular posts from this blog

The Island-Fish

-
Image
  “O ye passengers, whom may God preserve! come up quickly in to the ship, hasten to embark, and leave your merchandise, and flee with your lives, and save yourselves from destruction; for this apparent island, upon which ye are, is not really an island, but it is a great fish that hath become stationary in the midst of the sea, and the sand hath accumulated upon it, so that it hath become like an island, and trees have grown upon it since times of old; and when ye lighted the fire upon it, the fish felt the heat, and put itself in motion, and now it will descend with you into the sea, and ye will all be drowned: then seek for yourselves escape before destruction, and leave the merchandise.—The passengers, therefore, hearing the words of the master of the ship, hastened to go up into the vessel, leaving the merchandise, and their other goods, and their copper cooking-pots, and their fire-pots; and some reached the ship, and others reached it not. The island had moved, and descended...
Read more

“And so, about this tomb of mine . . . “

-
Image
  “VANITY, saith the preacher, vanity!  Draw round my bed: is Anselm keeping back?  Nephews—sons mine … ah God, I know not! Well—  She, men would have to be your mother once,  Old Gandolf envied me, so fair she was!  What’s done is done, and she is dead beside,  Dead long ago, and I am Bishop since,  And as she died so must we die ourselves,  And thence ye may perceive the world’s a dream.  Life, how and what is it?  As here I lie In this state-chamber, dying by degrees,  Hours and long hours in the dead night,  I ask “Do I live, am I dead?”  Peace, peace seems all.  Saint Praxed’s ever was the church for peace;  And so, about this tomb of mine.  I fought With tooth and nail to save my niche, ye know:  —Old Gandolf cozened me, despite my care;  Shrewd was that snatch from out the corner  South He graced his carrion with,  God curse the same!  Yet still my niche is not so cramped...
Read more