Book of Joshua Leadership Quotes

How we cite our quotes:

Quote #7

Joshua said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all, to hand us over to the Amorites so as to destroy us? Would that we had been content to settle beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned their backs to their enemies! The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?" (NRSV 7:7-9)

And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? (KJV 7:7-9)

Even though you have to delegate as a leader, you still have to take responsibility for the mistakes of the group. Joshua, however, passes the blame onto God, whom you could consider the real leader of the Israelites. Joshua definitely is right here.

Quote #8

There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them. (NRSV 8:35)

There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them. (KJV 8:35)

Joshua is clever enough to know that it's not his place to change what Moses had planted, but only to enhance it. A good leader knows when stability and consistency is important.

Quote #9

And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded a human voice; for the LORD fought for Israel. (NRSV 10:13-14)

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. (KJV 10:13-14)

Joshua leads so well that the sun and moon stop for him. That's the kind of leadership we can only dream of. The only thing that follows us are pigeons when we drop crumbs on the ground.