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Joshua: Using Wisdom to Cast Vision
Issue #403, July 23, 2025
Joshua’s leadership work was nearly done. The land was divided, and the people were settled. But before he died, he used wisdom to cast a vision for the next generation.
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” .... 25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. 27“See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” 28Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance (Joshua 24:14-15, 25-28 NIV).
In his final leadership action, Joshua casts a vision for the Israelites to renew their commitment to follow God. He does this with wisdom in three powerful ways.
Joshua used wisdom to cast vision by recalling the past.
Joshua recalls their history. He spends much of his farewell address reminding them of the ways that God has led them to the place they now are. He shares the stories of the past to provide vision for the future. He wisely links future vision to past events.
Some leaders only look to the future and paint a glorious picture of what can be with no connection to the past. But serving leaders link future vision to the stories that brought them here. They find vision from the past and project that forward into an even better future. They remind the people they lead that they are rooted in what has come before.
Joshua used wisdom to cast vision by setting a personal example.
Joshua called the people to recommit themselves to following God and then made his well-known declaration, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” He wisely leads by example. He will pursue the vision no matter what the choice of the people is. This commitment and personal engagement is a strong motivation to the people and they also agree to serve the Lord.
Some leaders call others to a high level of commitment, but they don’t get personally involved. They ask others to pay a price they are unwilling to pay. But serving leaders cast vision by their own action. They move before calling others to move.
Joshua used wisdom to cast vision by using visual reminders.
Joshua set up “a large stone” as a visual reminder of the commitment they were making. He wanted them to recall their commitment every time they walked past this stone. He wisely understood that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Some leaders rely only on words, hoping that repetition will make the vision stick. But serving leaders add visual reminders to the vision. They paint word pictures; they share stories and give examples that help the vision to stick in the hearts and minds of those they lead. They stir their hearts before asking for their hands.
For further reflection and discussion:
- When I share vision, how do I root it in the past? Even when significant changes are needed, have I found ways to look at the past to help articulate the way forward?
- In what ways do I model the vision I ask others to work towards? Can I consistently invite people to follow my example? What impact does that have on my leadership?
- How do I help people visualize the vision? Are there physical objects that I could use to remind people of the vision as Joshua did? Do I tell stories and give personal examples that bring the vision to life? What other ways can I help connect people’s emotions to the vision?
- In addition to these reflections above from Joshua’s life, read all of Joshua 23 and 24. Reflect on how he wisely used his farewell speech and covenant renewal to project a vision for the future. What do I learn from his example that I can apply to my own leadership?
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
In the next issue, we’ll begin a new series! (Give me your suggested topics or a biblical character you would like to learn from.)
If you would like the entire series on Joshua's life, click here to download. |
