Listen, decide and exercise your authority

When you are leading people and you allow the people a say, you will get "a say". Joshua seems to have allowed for people to approach him with their special requests or demands. But, he responds with the authority of God.

Joshua 17:17-18, And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one lot, but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong".

Joshua was clear. God had given the land, the people were great and powerful enough to takeover the land. The enemy may look formidable, but God has made them great. These are after all the descendents of Joseph the Prime Minister of Egypt.

I like the way Joshua responded. They presented all their constraints and Joshua heard them. But, Joshua responded with authority and decisively. Many of our leaders need to learn from this. Listen, be decisive and exercise your authority. This should include every aspect of us contributing towards eradicating gospel poverty.

Father, help me to follow Joshua's example today.

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