Joshua Leads

Read Joshua 22-24
 
Joshua 24:14-15 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
 
JOSHUA – or Yeshua –means “Jehovah (God) is our help” or “Jehovah the Savior”. It is the Hebrew form of the Greek name “Jesus”. As Jesus, the Son of God, lived in perfect harmony with the Father, Joshua’s life was a very personal experience with the LORD God. Joshua was a warrior. He led Israel’s armies in battles throughout the Wilderness Journey, first recorded in Exodus 17. Joshua was Moses’ disciple. Exodus 24 tells us Joshua accompanied Moses to Mt. Sinai and waited while Moses received the Law. Joshua was also with Moses when the LORD came to the Tent of Meeting before the Tabernacle was built. Joshua was a faithful scout. He joined with Caleb to urge Israel into the Promised Land when 10 other spies put fear and doubt in the nation’s mind.
   Appointed by God, taught by Moses, Joshua led Israel to conquer the Promised Land. Yes, he errored at times as we all do. But he knew how to repent and move forward. Joshua moved out of his mistakes into a greater faith because he knew victory awaits those who devotedly follow God. Joshua’s legacy to this day is to know that a steadfast worship of God is a daily, active faith to know and live in God’s commands.
   There is one more thing – perhaps the most important thing – we should know of Joshua. As he declared, “But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” we know Joshua’s leadership began at home. Serving God takes many forms. Most importantly it begins with a servant’s heart at home. You can’t lead a community, church, nation or business until you fully and faithfully lead your family toward Jesus with a true servant heart.
   A servant’s heart was the essence of his character. Joshua served the LORD through serving his family, Moses and the nation. How good it would have been for Israel to remember and live into Yeshua’s – the Savior’s – words: “Choose today whom you will serve. Serve the LORD alone.”