HEARTLIGHT ® Magazine: Leading in Hope: "Stepping Out of the Shadow of a Giant!"

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epping out of the shadow of a giant. But this was the biggest giant he would ever face — and the most important: how would he step out of Moses’ giant shadow and lead God’s people? You see, the only leader this bunch God’s people had ever known was Moses. Moses was the Giant who had led them all their lives. But “Moses is dead!” and he is only Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ aide.

Who would lead them? How could anyone lead them like Moses had led them — he had delivered them from Egypt and the mighty hand of the Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea, brought them manna and quail, brought forth water from the rock in the desert, met God on Mount Sinai, given them God’s Law, punished them for their unfaithfulness and yet defended them before God? Where could they find a leader who could lead them where they had never been before? Was there anyone who could step out of Moses’ shadow and lead them where even Moses couldn’t go? Surely it couldn’t be Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ aide!

Joshua’s life is a model of faithful leadership. But maybe the most important moment of his leadership began the moment Moses died. In that moment, God, Joshua, and the people of Israel demonstrate very powerfully how a new leader can step out from the shadow of a giant leader of the past and lead God’s people into the future. Notice the dynamics that are revealed in Scripture.

Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ aide.

Joshua may have been Moses aide, but he was more than just an aide. Joshua was one of only two spies who had urged Israel to go into the Promised Land. “Yes, it was a land of giants, but it was a land promised by God, and with God’s help, the land was theirs if they would only be faithful and do what the Lord commanded.” You see, Joshua was a proven faithful leader who was not afraid of giants as long as the Lord was with him. The first essential quality of a leader to step out of the shadow of a giant is that the leader must have proved himself faithful in the face of difficult challenges. Joshua fit the bill. He had served Moses faithfully. He had seen all his friends die in the desert. He had witnessed God’s mighty acts. He had stood against a lynch mob and said, “With God’s help, the victory is ours.” ( Numbers 14:5-9) Joshua was not Moses, but he had proven himself in the heat of battle and had been at Moses side during the most critical moments of Israel’s history.

Joshua knew he could lead God’s people. It wasn’t because of his skill, but because of the Lord’s promised presence and power. “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ... No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Joshua 1:3, 5) While Moses was God’s leader, it was actually God who delivered them from Egypt and the mighty hand of the Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea, brought them manna and quail, brought forth water from the rock in the desert, thundered from Mount Sinai, had given them the Law, punished them for their unfaithfulness, and defended them from their enemies! If the LORD, the God of Moses, went with Joshua, then Joshua knew he could lead these people. It wasn’t a statement of his skill, but a matter of his trust in God. The second essential quality needed to step out of the shadow of a giant leader is humble trust in promised presence of God and his power. Joshua could be strong and courageous because he knew God would go with him.

Interestingly, Joshua displays the third attribute needed to step out of the shadow of a giant leader with great subtlety. Throughout Moses leadership, the land of Canaan had been referred to as the land flowing with milk and honey. The focus was on the bounty and beauty of the land. While this wasn’t the only way the Promised Land was referred to, Joshua begins his leadership by calling this “the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.” (Joshua 1:11) Throughout Joshua’s leadership, the prominent reminder given the people was that this land was already theirs because God had promised it. The issue was one of their obedience in possessing it. In other words, Joshua didn’t bait the people with the lure of bounty and beauty, but he challenged them to step forward in faith believing that what God promised is true. The third essential quality for a new leader to step out of the shadow of a great leader in the past is to challenge God’s people to believe and obey God and answer God’s challenges. While the lure of a quick pay off or a great reward may be helpful in the short run, the difficulties of Satan’s challenges and trials of everyday life have a way of tarnishing the simplistic lure of shallow success. God’s blessings often come hidden in the difficulties of obedient trust.

As soon as Joshua was called and reassured by the Lord of his leadership, he stepped forward and led. While he was careful to honor the memory of Moses, when he assumed leadership, he led (Joshua 1:10-15). He didn’t wait till the dust settled. He didn’t wait for a strategic moment to step forward. He stepped forward and began to lead. He called the people and the leaders together and told them what to do. He reassured them of God’s promise. He reminded them of their commitments to unity, to each other, to Moses, and to God. But most importantly, he led with conviction without wavering. The fourth essential of a leader stepping out of the shadows is his willingness to step forward and lead with clear direction and confidence. There is no self-doubt that allows Joshua to resent the people’s loyalty to Moses. There is no fear of the past great leader’s accomplishments or legacy. He leads with confidence and continuity, recognizing the greatness of Moses’ accomplishments but not intimidated by his legacy.

“Be strong and courageous.”

Finally, a leader can’t lead God’s people out of the shadow of former great leader unless the people are willing to follow his leadership. “We will follow you in the way of the Lord just as we followed Moses! “ the people shouted. (Joshua 1:16-18) But more than just giving Joshua their verbal commitment, they gave him their blessing: “May the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.” They recognized that their leader’s power came from God and not from his charisma nor his might. Moses was a giant, a great leader. But he was great because his God was great. They also gave Joshua their encouragement, using the very same words God has used to encourage him: “Be strong and courageous.”

The hand-off of leadership from one great leader to another is difficult and frightening. While the great leader of the past is proven, the new great leader is neither great nor leader until he has led. Only time and God can confirm that greatness and that leadership. But God, Joshua, and the people of God remind us that a new great leader can step out of the shadows of great leader if...

The new leader has proven himself faithful in past challenges and service.

The new leader’s confidence is in the promised presence and power of God and not in his own abilities.

The new leader challenges God’s people to faithful obedience to God instead of trying to lure them with shallow promises of quick and easy success.

The new leader willingly steps forward and leads with confidence and clear direction

Those who are being led willingly follow, offering God’s leader their blessing and their encouragement.

Before Joshua is through, he will step of the shadows of Moses leadership no longer be known as Joshua, son of Nun, Moses’ aide. While he would never replace Moses as the greatest of Israel’s early leaders, his own unique and courageous leadership did what Moses could not: Joshua led God’s people into the Promised Land. When Joshua is laid to rest, he is known as Joshua, son of Nun, the servant of the Lord! (Joshua 24:29)