Ernest Smith

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why I am blogging what God is teaching during my personal time with Him, read this.

Joshua: Chapter Three

Could you imagine? You have been waiting your whole life for this moment.  You have talked about it, prayed about it, dreamed about it!  Everyone is excited with anticipation!  All eyes are on you.  The only thing that stands in the way of what is and what will be is a river.  Let’s do this!

This must have been how the people of Israel, and specifically Joshua, felt in Joshua 3 before the crossing of the Jordan River.  The Jordan was the only thing standing in the way of the people walking into the promise God gave them over 40 years earlier….actually, centuries earlier.

Joshua was their leader so all eyes were on him.  What is he going to do now?  How are they going to cross the river?  How will he prove himself at this point?

At this stage many leaders would focus on how they could affirm their leadership.  This is a great time to cast some vision.  This is a great time to tell the people all the lofty goals the leader has for them.  This is a great time for the leader to talk about all the people they have raised up and how he is going to continue doing this for years to come.

But, Joshua doesn’t do any of this.  In fact, the Lord very quickly teaches Joshua a truth that all leaders should learn…

We should never seek to affirm our leadership.  We should trust that God will do that.  Our role is to simply listen and be obedient to what He wants from us.

As Joshua is about to lead the people into the Promised Land, listen to what the Lord tells him.

Joshua 3:7 “The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you…’”

The Lord wanted Joshua to know that He was going to be the one that would exalt Joshua.  Joshua didn’t have to do that.  Joshua didn’t have to worry about proving anything to anyone.

Joshua could trust that God was going to affirm his leadership and when the Lord affirms your leadership, you will never have greater credibility.

All Joshua had to worry about was the “and as for you”.  You see, so many times leaders worry too much about trying to get others to believe in them, to follow them, to trust them.  However, God doesn’t want us being concerned about those things, but rather concerned about what He wants us to do.

When we are listening and obeying God, then HE will affirm the leadership we so desperately want others to see in us.

Listen to God.  Obey God.  He will do the rest!

How have you seen your own desire to affirm your leadership hinder what God wants to do through you?

Is it easier for you to listen to God or obey God?