Of the 12 spies who were sent to scout out the land of Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb believed that the Israelites could take it. Joshua practically urged the people to take the land, but his influence wasn't enough. At that point in his life, he had not yet reached the place where he could exert great influence. Although he was right, he could not convince the people, because they were not looking at him, but at the other ten spies.
Joshua's success would certainly grow in proportion to his leadership, but he needed more time to build his influence. Moses was his mentor. And perhaps Joshua would be the successor who would lead Israel into the promised land.
The Nature of Leadership
1. Leadership means exerting influence.
The true measure of leadership ability is influence. Nothing more, and nothing less. Joshua learned this lesson very early, when the people did not believe him and followed the other ten spies instead. His position as a leader among the tribes did not help him influence the others.
2. Leaders do not have influence in every area.
The 12 spies chosen to scout the land were tribal leaders (Numbers 13:2). That means Joshua already had some influence. But his influence was not enough to sway the other ten.
3. A leader's influence is either positive or negative.
If all 12 spies had said that the land should be taken, the Israelites would certainly have followed them. But influence is a double-edged sword that can produce good or bad. The ten fearful leaders used their influence to hold the people back, with far-reaching consequences for themselves and their people.
4. Leaders use their influence to add value to people.
Some leaders use their influence for their own agenda, manipulating people for their own benefit. That is what the ten spies did. Their personal fear led them to infect all of Israel with it. They lied and said that the land devours its inhabitants (Numbers 13:32). Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, tried to encourage their fellow Israelites to do what would benefit everyone. Every good leader carries that kind of agenda.
5. With influence comes responsibility.
The ten leaders may not have intended to start a rebellion against God, but that is what they did. Because of their discouraging report, the people wanted to go back to Egypt. As a result, all ten leaders and their generation died in the wilderness.
Joshua's Growing Influence
Many leaders who fail like this give up. But fortunately for Israel, Joshua did not. And so, little by little, he became a better leader. Despite his setback, he stayed faithful to God and learned everything there was to learn from Moses.
1. Joshua's influence grew because of his relationship with Moses. (Deuteronomy 31:1-8, 23)
Through Moses' mentoring, Joshua not only expanded his leadership skills but was also accepted by the people as Moses' successor. Scripture says that when Israel was ready to take the promised land, Moses gathered all the people and then said to Joshua: "Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it." (Deuteronomy 31:7) In this way, Moses handed his authority over to Joshua.
2. Joshua's influence grew with time and maturity. (Numbers 14:1-10; Joshua 18:1-10)
Joshua gave nearly the same speech twice. The first time as a young leader with no major track record. The second time as an experienced leader to a new generation who had experienced him as their leader. The credibility he had earned in between led the Israelites to follow him.
3. Joshua's influence grew because of good timing. (Joshua 1:16-18)
Sometimes a leader has little influence until their people themselves want to achieve something. It was only when the people tried to move forward in the wilderness that they began to listen to Joshua's word. When Joshua first called on them to go into the promised land and conquer it, the people responded with a loud proposal to stone him. Later, they answered with the words: "All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go."
4. Joshua's influence grew because he was patient and had integrity. (Joshua 1:5-9)
Joshua kept developing and growing in his leadership ability. He and Caleb did not die in the wilderness like the others who had rebelled against God. But they were forced to wander through the wilderness for 40 years, even though it was not their fault. Such an injustice could easily have made Joshua angry, depressed, cynical, or melancholic. Yet he became none of those things. Throughout that whole time he displayed consistency and credibility, until even the last person among the people of Israel was ready to follow him.
5. Joshua's influence grew because he was right. (Joshua 23:1-11)
From the beginning, Joshua tried to do what was right. He wanted to lead the people in the right direction. After the exodus from Egypt, many of the people of Israel considered his words harsh and rash. But his words stood the test of time. His message never changed, and in the end it would prove true.
Leadership is about influence, and Joshua is an example that influence is ultimately grounded in character and conviction.
Numbers 14:6-9
6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.