Leaders – Born or Made?

Is a Leader born or made? Probably both – God gives the Leader the genetic structure he needs and then develops his gifts and abilities in the “school of life.” Management Seminars promise to teach “Leadership;” but there must be “ingredients” of Leadership within the Person in order that the Leadership could be developed. Principles of Leadership may be taught, but what it means to be the Leader, can only be learned on the field of action. It must be “caught.” Seminars do not make the Person the Leader. It creates awareness. What are the characteristics of Joshua’s Leadership Style?

Joshua Walks with God

Like Moses, his Mentor, Joshua was a man of God. Joshua was called “the Servant of the Lord” (Joshua 24:29). God communicated His will to Joshua, and he obeyed:

• Joshua meditates daily on the “Law of the LORD” (Joshua 1:8).
• Joshua does what it said – Joshua 11:15 “As the LORD commanded Moses, His Servant, so did Moses commanded Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.”
• Joshua is a man of Prayer – Joshua 7:6-9 

Joshua is a Worshipper

Exodus 33:7-11 “And Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it outside the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass that every man who sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which is outside the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle that all the people rose up and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, that cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. And the LORD spoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp, but his Servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man departed not out of the tabernacle.” During the Wilderness Journey, Moses set up the Tabernacle of the Congregation outside the Camp where he (Moses) could meet with God (Exodus 33:7-11). It was Joshua’s responsibility to stay at the Tabernacle and guard it. Not only was Joshua a Warrior, but he was also the Worshipper and knows how-to live-in God’s Presence.

Joshua is Courageous

At the beginning of his ministry Joshua was told four times to “be courageous” (Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 18). It takes courage to be the Successful Leader, courage to stand for what he believes, and courage to do what he knows God wants him to do. Every Leader can learn from Martin Luther when he said: “Here I stand, I can do no other.”

General Omar Bradley defined bravery as “the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.” We have not been told whether Joshua was ever afraid as he faced the Enemies, but we do know that he did his job and won battle after battle. Most of us are not called to lead Armies, but any kind of leadership involves risks and demands moral courage. “He who love his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25, NIV). If the person is timid about life and ministry, he will never accomplish much for God. It was because the “unfaithful” Servant was afraid that he hid his Master’s wealth and did not take the risk of investing it (Matthew 25:24-30). Joshua’s courage involved much more than fighting the Enemies, as great as they were. He also had the courage to deal with sin in the Camp of Israel (Joshua 7) and to challenge the Tribes to “get with it” and claim their Inheritance (Joshua 17:14-18). Sometimes it takes more courage to face our own people at home or in the Congregation than it takes to face the Enemies in the spiritual realm.

• Joshua