Joshua: Leading Wherever You ArePrøve

As leaders, many times we will find ourselves going against the status quo. We’ll face moments where we’ll need to hold our ground, though people might shun us. We’ve seen this happen in movies. We’ve read it in books. Maybe we’ve even been that person, the one who grits their teeth and presses on even when friends, coworkers, or family disagree—because light needs to be shed on truth.

Many years prior to becoming leader of the Israelites, Joshua was put into this position. Numbers 13–14 recounts the story: God requested that Moses send out twelve men to secretly scout out the land He was giving them. Joshua and Caleb were the only spies who returned still believing in God’s promise to bring them into this lush and beautiful land. They weren’t naive—they knew taking the land would be difficult and would take time. But never once did they stray from believing that God would provide. God honored their trust in Him: They got to enter the Promised Land, while the rest of the generation brought out from Egypt died in the wilderness. 

Years later when Joshua sent two spies out to search out Jericho, they met an unlikely leader. Rahab, a prostitute, put her life on the line for two men she didn’t even know because her "why" was wrapped up in knowing a God she’d only heard stories about. She knew there was more to the life she lived, and she believed that the stories were true.

If Rahab acted out of faith in a God she had heard of and yet barely knew, how much more should we as both leaders and Christ-followers act in faith to protect, encourage, and help others know Him?

Just because Rahab had previously sold her body for money didn’t mean that’s where her future was headed. Rahab’s life was transformed because she believed. Her life was forever altered and consequently she acted in a bold and countercultural way. Like Joshua, she knew the truth and held tightly to it. 

Rahab likely didn’t view herself as a leader, yet she acted as one. Let’s be like Rahab, and be fearless and audacious in what God calls us to do.