by Linzy Slayden
Joshua walked onto the pages of history at a crucial moment. God had promised centuries earlier that Abraham’s children would inhabit the land of Canaan. When Joshua assumed leadership, the people of God were standing on the east side of the Jordan River, ready to take the land. This was a crucial time of transition.
After years of preparation, Joshua was now marked, in the presence of God’s people, as the man of God’s choice. He learned that leadership, if it was real, did not come from men, but only from God. Men can ordain, but leadership does not derive from them. Men, even Christian men, can generate leadership, but leadership generated only from men is only on the level of any human leadership and will bring no more true spiritual results than any human charisma. True blessed leadership comes from God.
So, after all these years, Joshua was ready. Is there necessarily a long time of preparation needed for spiritual leadership? Not always, but usually. We can think of those in the Scriptures who for years were prepared for crucial leadership they would exercise. But we need to be careful: we cannot make this a rule, because Paul did say to Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth” (2 Timothy 4:12). We must not insist that no man be given important leadership until he has gray hair … or no hair at all! At the same time, we must understand that if we are to be ready for a time of leadership, and if we are young, we must be ready for a time of preparation. Joshua learned many lessons during his preparation, and he learned them well.
I am reminded of the three changeless factors that helped him in transition: The written Word, the power of God, and the supernatural Leader.
These factors flow from the Pentateuch through the rest of the Old Testament and down through the New Testament, and even to our present time.
Today we have a written authority, the Word of God.
Concerning the second factor, consider the statement of the resurrected Jesus: “All power is given unto me in heaven and earth” (Matthew 28:18).
The third factor is the supernatural Leader. The Captain who went before Joshua in his battles was the Lord Himself.
Our lives, ministries, and our Fellowship will change, but essential things stay the same.
Serving two terms as president of the BBFI has been one of the greatest blessings and burdens of my ministry life. I am very thankful for the confidence you placed in me. I am also very thankful for the fellow national officers that served with me.
Our Fellowship has elected a new slate of national officers. Please pray for them and support them as they lead our Fellowship.