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Leading Wherever You Are
JOSHUA
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The twelve men were to place twelve stones on top of each other as a symbol of the Twelve
Tribes, because God wanted the entire family to be involved in what He was doing. He asked the
whole company to come together as one and actively remember where they had come from,
recognizing that He would bring them onward toward a fulfilled Promise.
HISTORY LESSON
Abraham (see Genesis 12-25) is often called the “Father of our Faith,” but the Twelve Tribes
weren’t formed until generations later from Abraham’s grandson Jacob’s (also called Israel)
twelve sons. From those tribes, Judaism was officially birthed (through the tribe of Judah in around
922 BC).
Today, the words Israel and Judaism are synonymous. Judaism now includes what’s left of all
of the tribes. Small remnants of some of the other tribes still exist, but Judaism today largely
includes those from the tribes of Judah, Levi, Simeon, and Benjamin.
But think about this: You’re walking through parted waters. The river towers high above your
head on either side. Yes, you’re walking on dry ground…but you can still see the fish in the wall
of water next to you. You can see the reeds and brush swirling around the waving waters that is
often uprooted during this spring flood-time. I bet you’d hightail your way through, right? Not that
you don’t trust God. He parted the waters—why would He allow them to crash on you? At least,
that’s what you try to remind yourself over and over as your heart beats ten thousand times per
minute.
Then—whew—you make it to the other side. You’re safe. But wait…what about these twelve
men who were given an extra task? Can you imagine what was going through their heads?
Go back in and heave a massive stone upon my shoulder? Um, that will take a while to carry
out. Deep breath. How long will it take me? Don’t look at that wall of water. Exhale. Uhhhh okay,
God—I really hope Joshua heard You right.
How can we lead in a way that develops such profound trust in the people around us?
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As they walked back into the dry riverbank, Joshua also began setting up a set of memorial
stones—in the middle of the Jordan. Joshua didn’t lead from a high perch. These men trusted him
because he was with them.
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