The Strategic Family: Guiding Your Family With Vision and FaithSample

Today, we'll dive deep into the story of Joshua, one of the Bible's most prominent strategic leaders. His journey offers powerful lessons for Strategic Families seeking to use their planning abilities to fulfill God's purposes.

Joshua's story began long before he became the leader of Israel. As Moses' assistant, he learned valuable lessons in leadership and faith. He was one of the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan (Numbers 13-14), and along with Caleb, he stood firm in his faith when others doubted God's promise.

When Moses died, Joshua faced the daunting task of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. God's command to Joshua in Joshua 1:9 set the tone for his leadership: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua's strategic thinking is evident from the start of his leadership. Before entering Jericho, he sent two spies to gather intelligence (Joshua 2). This reconnaissance mission not only provided valuable information but also led to the pivotal alliance with Rahab, which would later prove crucial.

The battle of Jericho (Joshua 6) showcases the perfect blend of divine instruction and human obedience. God's strategy - marching around the city for seven days and blowing trumpets - seemed unconventional by military standards. Yet Joshua followed the plan precisely, demonstrating that true strategic wisdom often involves trusting God's plan over our own understanding.

However, Joshua's journey wasn't without setbacks. The defeat at Ai (Joshua 7) serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of presumption and the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity. After the victory at Jericho, Joshua sent a small force to attack Ai, confident of an easy win. The resulting defeat revealed sin in the camp - Achan had disobeyed God's command and kept some plunder from Jericho. This incident teaches us that even the best strategies can fail if we're not aligned with God's will.

Throughout his leadership, Joshua demonstrated remarkable strategic and organizational skills. He systematically allocated territories among the tribes (Joshua 13-21), ensuring each received their proper inheritance. This massive undertaking required careful planning, fair judgment, and the ability to manage diverse groups with competing interests.

Joshua's leadership style consistently emphasized the importance of remembering God's faithfulness and maintaining obedience. His farewell speeches (Joshua 23-24) are powerful examples of strategic spiritual leadership, as he challenges the people to remain faithful to God and choose whom they will serve.

For Strategic Families today, Joshua's life offers a wealth of valuable lessons. His journey teaches us to balance careful planning with flexibility and obedience to God's guidance, much like Joshua adjusted his strategies based on divine instructions. We learn the importance of gathering information, as Joshua did with his spies, while ultimately trusting in God's wisdom, even when His plans seem unconventional by our standards.

Joshua's experience at Ai cautions us against letting past successes lead to overconfidence, reminding us to approach each new challenge with humility and dependence on God. His prompt handling of Achan's sin demonstrates the need to address issues quickly and thoroughly when they arise, maintaining the integrity of our families and communities.

Joshua's fair allocation of the Promised Land shows how we can use our organizational skills to serve others and ensure justice. His consistent spiritual leadership, culminating in his farewell speeches, sets an example for Strategic Families to keep God at the center of their planning and decision-making, regularly reminding our families of God's faithfulness and the importance of serving Him.

By embracing these lessons from Joshua's life, Strategic Families can align their planning abilities with God's will, becoming a powerful force for good in their families, communities, and beyond. Your planning skills, when guided by faith and obedience, can lead to significant impact for God's kingdom, just as Joshua's strategic leadership guided Israel into their promised inheritance.

Questions for Reflection:

1. How can our family, like Joshua, balance strategic planning with obedience to God's sometimes unexpected instructions?
2. In what ways can we use our strategic abilities to lead and serve others in our community or church?
3. How might we incorporate regular "spiritual reconnaissance" into our family life to ensure we're aligned with God's will?
4. What steps can we take to address issues promptly when they arise, as Joshua did at Ai?