Called to Follow

“Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing. Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them. Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about half a mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.””

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We find ourselves constantly playing limbo between two seasons of life: leading seasons and following seasons. In some cases we are called to lead groups into the unknown whether it be our family, organization, church or friends. In other instances we are called to follow the lead of others as we grow into the new and more fulfilling spaces God has for us. Most of the time you are doing a little bit of both. Now when I sent out the devotional message today, I added a touchy quotation from Ephesians 5:22 and this devotional isn’t even about that necessarily. But I do think we can come to a lot more understanding of what that means if we read one verse up when it says that we are called to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ. Jesus says that the greatest leaders among you will be the servants. If you are called to lead, you are called to put others first. You are called to pour yourself out for love the same way Jesus did, but you can only have the patience, love and understanding to put others first if you yourself are submitted to Christ. And that’s what makes you safe to follow. Putting Christ and others first is what makes you safe to be a leader. You are called to both lead and follow on this Christian journey. And as we embark on this journey of growth, we need to understand how both sides work.

In this story, Joshua and the Israelites are tasked with crossing the Jordan river into the promised land. Joshua is in the opening stages of his role as leader and this is the first event he is called to lead his people through. Leadership can be scary, especially when you're the next up to bat after someone like Moses. There can be a fear of not being good enough or a worry that the people you're called to lead may not respond to you well. And I can imagine Joshua had all these same fears and oppositions. But the Bible makes it clear that he was called for a reason and he would have success. Joshua was called for that specific time to lead in a way that only he could. He was told multiple times to be strong and courageous because God wanted to use him to accomplish a victory that was planned long before him. Joshua was told that whatever land he planted his feet on would be conquered. Enemies would faint from fear after hearing rumors about how God would move in his life. Joshua was promised greatness and success for as long as he lived. Joshua was even told that the people would not see him as a fraud or a poser but that they would revere and respect him the same way they did the legendary Moses. Why? Because the Lord was with him and promised to never leave or forsake him. And this same unique calling is on your life.

You may be apprehensive of your call to leadership. I think it's interesting that the Israelites were called to follow the priest on this journey because they had never traveled that way before, but I don't think the priests had either. And you may be wondering how God is calling you to lead when you don't even feel like an expert in the destination yourself, but I want to remind you that you are called for a reason. You are more equipped than you know because God is with you. The Bible says that it is God who sets up kings and queens. God put you in position and gave you the responsibility for influence. God cares about the people you're leading more than you do and wouldn’t force them to be subjected to someone who would lead them to their demise. He picked you because of what He put in you. He picked you because He designed you to be the unique and specific answer to the present problems. And you will have success because if God called you to it, He will see you through it. You will have success because you have been promised victory. Just like Joshua and the priests, will have success because the Lord is with you. 

I think it's interesting that true leadership only works as you yourself follow. Joshua was told to pay close attention to the decrees God had given Moses, and was commanded not to deviate from them. His success was dependent on his submission. The only way you can lead people into things that are bigger than you is by being submitted to someone bigger than you. All through the Bible, the Israelites only had victory when the priests went ahead carrying the Ark that represented the presence of God. They didn't even send warriors into battle first, they sent pastors and worship leaders. It’s not by our might nor power but by the Spirit of God that we have success. It must be remembered that true success isn't about how skilled or powerful you are, it's about how submitted to God you are. True significance and success is only birthed when God is first. We can only pour because we’ve been filled. We can only produce fruit because we are connected to the source that is Jesus. I know you may be scared. I know you may be honest enough to know your limitations. But God called you knowing all of you. He knew your history and weaknesses and still called you because the reality of your weakness would make it easier for you to get out the way and let Him lead you as you lead others. God uses the weak and damaged things and people of this world so that we will have no choice but to know it was Him doing the heavy lifting. Paul said that He would boast in his weakness because they were what kept him submitted to God.  That's what gave him his power. The best leaders are the most submitted. The greatest agents of influence are the biggest servants and service is only made possible through Jesus working in and through you. You are called to lead like Joshua and the priest. And that leadership is made possible through submission to God. 

But I want to shift your attention to the other aspect of this story and that is the followers. The priests are leading the people as they themselves submit to God. And the Israelites are tasked with following the priests and God as the priests follow God. This idea of submission is often posed as a curse word and that can be understood. People have abused power and made it unsafe for many of us to trust others to look after our wellbeing. Many of us haven’t had an opportunity to really place childlike trust in those who were called to protect and provide for us. And that is why God uses this workout of submission to help heal us in the areas of innocence the devil tried to steal from us. Submission isn't slavery or abuse. Submission is voluntarily yielding to or accepting the will of someone else because of your belief in their character and mission. When you believe someone is truly safe and trustworthy because their character is solid and they desire your best good, following them or helping them accomplish goals is essentially helping yourself. You don't have to keep looking over your shoulder to make sure they aren't out to get you. When you trust the security found in someone, you can see them as a trusted teammate and not a traitor waiting to emerge. True trust gives you the freedom to let your guard down and rest. When you trust someone you can believe they will desire your good even when you don't fully understand and that is what God is asking us to do. As we follow Him, we won't always understand but because we know His character we can trust all His plans are for our good. 

If we are to truly grow in our trust of God, we must follow Him as He asks us to follow those who are following Him. God isn't calling you to trust absent minded leaders who have no submission or headship themselves. Safe leaders are submitted ones. Paul said to follow him and he followed Christ. That means that you should not submit yourself to oppression at the hands of someone who isn't submitted to Jesus. Jesus said the blind shouldn’t follow the blind. But there is a safety in following the lead of people who are submitted to the same God. If you trust your coach and their values, you can trust the lead of the team captains they set up because they are also sold out and committed to that coach and the values of the team. Trusting the people God puts in leadership is actually an exercise to further trust God as He leads you through the uncomfortable and unknown. The same way God has ordained you and specifically crafted you for influence and leadership in some fields, He has done the same with them. 

Many of us find it hard to believe that the roles God ordains are actually for our good. But God created us and knows how we will best function. He knows what methods will work to give us what we truly desire. And the Bible says in Psalm 84 that God will not withhold good from those who follow Him. That means anything He leads you into or any role He asks you to function in is actually for your best good. This is a part of the faith journey we're all on. God is using our lives to show us how good and loving He actually is. And both leadership and submission, as we both serve each other and submit to Christ, are a part of that work out. 

I’ve heard it said that a man without accountability is a dangerous one. If you want to be great, you must allow yourself to be submitted to God and the leaders and mentors He puts in your life. Joshua was prepared for this leadership because he spent time following Moses closely, even when he didn't understand all the way. This prepared him to follow God closely, even when he didn't fully understand. As soon as you stop accepting trusted accountability, you're placing a date on your failure. Leadership is meant to guide, motivate, correct and protect you. God sets up leaders to use as a tool to help grow us and bless us. Only a fool hates discipline. You cannot lead if you cannot follow. 

Another aspect I want to point out from this text is that leadership is meant to protect you. I find it interesting that God was so adamant about the Israelites playing their role well. He told them to stay not just a few steps behind but a whole half a mile behind. And then for emphasis He circles back and reminds them to make sure they don't come any closer. If everything God sets up is for our good, even the times He calls us to step back and follow are for our good. 

I’m an associate pastor right now, and it's funny cause people will often ask me if or when I want my own church. And while I am willing and available for whatever God says is best, I often quickly deflect because I realize how beautiful roles of submission are. I like being able to follow as an associate. So many pastors have told me how jealous they are of me because they didn't get a chance to start as an associate and learn with close mentorship and safety. They jumped straight into the fire and wished they could have trained more in obscurity before the lights of scrutiny came on. I’m in a great place to learn and develop like Joseph in serving in Potifar’s house, David playing in the palace or Moses tending flocks in the field. While God has given me pastoral gifts and called me to impact through leadership, I in no way desire to bite off more power than I need right now because that would force me to also bite off more pressure. Many of us are forcing ourselves into the platforms God is preparing us for too early. We are jumping into platforms before we are ready and wondering why the pressure is too much. You know oven cooked food is always better than microwave cooked food. The longer you allow God to develop you in the dark room of service and submission, the brighter you will shine when it's time to come out. 

I’m blessed because I allow myself to submit to accountability and mentorship. When I have trusted overhead that I believe is submitted to the God I trust, I can rest in the safety that the people I follow are not just going in the same direction but they will protect me. There are bullets I don't have to take and shots I didn't even know were aimed because I am a half mile behind those called to lead me. The call to submission isn't a bad thing. It's for your good. I can rest in safety as I succeed in the role God gave me. Because I trust God and my leadership, I can stay safe from the pressures and responsibilities that would come from stepping into roles that carry weight I was never meant to carry. 

Many of us do not trust God or the leadership He has set up and we keep stepping in front of the people God set up to shield us from attacks. The Israelites were called to stay a half mile back from the priests and while they could have been confused and potentially felt disrespected by the distance between the roles, it was for their good. I love that in this story, the Bible says the river was overflowing. This was the most dangerous time to try to cross a river. And God sets up the priests to be those who have to face the fear and trust God while walking into what could be their death. But as they step into the water, the water rolls back to its source and makes a path for them like it did at the Red Sea. Did you catch that? Notice the intentional faith journeys God has both groups on. The priests have to trust that God will protect as they lead themselves, their families and loved ones into what logically should be death. But as the leaders trust, it opens up a patch of dry land for the rest of the people so that they don't even have to deal with the emotional and spiritual battle the priests just did a few minutes ago. The Israelites don't even see the struggle the priest went through because they were told to stay behind. They’re protected. The priest get wet and the Israelites stay dry and are free from extra burden. And I want to submit to you that maybe God is calling you to stay out of roles you weren’t called to so that you don't wet? The leaders were muddy, scared, and standing with wet socks while those called to submit walked through dry land with no hiccups. Maybe submission makes life easier for you? 

God is saying to stay in your roll so that you can walk on dry land and only worry about trusting Him. Leaders are put in our lives so that we can have it easier, and by forfeiting the blessing that leaders are, we are walking into a party of pressure we are not on the guest list for. God didn't want you to deal with their battle. That’s why He put you in different roles. God set you up for what would be best for you. Trust God enough to trust what He ordains for this season or space in your life. You will be called to both lead and follow. And you are uniquely designed to reach your fullest potential and be blessed the most when you align with whatever God has set up for that season. Be a submitted leader and your leadership will lead to success. Follow submitted leadership and you will have an easier and blessed journey. Be a submitted leader and people will feel safer following you because you're following the same God they are following. Be a submitted follower and you will allow God the room to show you just how much you can rest in His provision. He does want the best for you. He made you and knows how you would function best. Let’s stop fighting the chief engineer of our lives when He made the blueprint for our fulfillment. Trust that His methods will actually lead to your good because He is a good good father who desires the best for you. 

I want you to spend time asking God to help you trust Him more. Ask Him to build your faith so that you have the ability to be a good leader as you are a good follower. And if this devotional blessed you, I'm asking that you pray for me, pray for this ministry and pray that all who read this are blessed. Share this with your group chats and family and help them subscribe so that they don't miss the newest devotionals. We have almost 900 subscribed already and need to get to 1000. 

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