Take the Lead

“Leadership is your ability to hide your panic from others.”  Laozi

Have you ever felt inadequate? Have you questioned your abilities to take on a leadership role?

I know I have.

High School Choir

You thought the worst part was over—auditioning for a spot in the school choir.

You memorised the lyrics and rehearsed the song over and over until your voice went hoarse. For all your dedication and sacrifice, your family threatened to kick you out of your own home.

They said you made their ears bleed. They were losing their minds, and at times their Christian testimonies.

You endured the worst part, auditioning in front of seasoned choir members, and nailed it. You wear the shiny choir pin on your school uniform, hoping all your friends will notice.

Then the unthinkable happens.

The Choir Master requests that you sing a solo part in the up and coming choir special. You swallow hard. It’s a honour you can’t refuse.

Now you are plagued with a thousand worrisome thoughts that paralyse you. Will your voice be loud enough? Will it crack? Will you be able to hit the right notes? Will you remember the lyrics?

House Captain

You’ve been elected as House Captain. At first, you’re elated—proud to be selected for the coveted leadership position. Your name is painted on the House Captain Honour board for all the plebs to see.

You think back to seniors who had been captains of your house in previous years. You admired them, especially when they led your house to victory, and now you’ve joined their ranks.

Taking the reins, you discover that writing the house chant is more complicated than it seems. You must include memorable lyrics, rhythms and beats.

In terms of visual aesthetics, you must choreograph the steps for the chant. You add a dash of spectacle and theatre by adding a short gymnastics routine to it.

Then you spend countless hours teaching the choreography to hyperactive primary students and apathetic high school kids.

They turn up reluctantly for chant practice, and whine because it’s cutting into their playtime. But winning the chant means a cool 500 points. So, you put your soul into it.

Not to mention that you must also motivate students in your house to memorise their scripture passages for extra house points. Quite a challenge when their minds are like sieves.

There’s intense pressure to earn house points, athletically and academically.

You must lead your house to victory. All eyes are set on you.

Will you rise to the occasion?

Leading the nation of Israel

The children of Israel wasted 40 years wandering around in the wilderness because of their disobedience, stubbornness and rebelliousness. They didn’t enter the Promised Land the first time around.

After learning their lesson, God gave them a second chance. The next generation would cross over into Canaan and enjoy God’s blessing.

Moses never sets foot into the Promised Land. When Moses passes away, Joshua is appointed his successor. It’s intimidating for Joshua to step into Moses’ big sandals.

Read through Joshua chapter 3

Joshua takes the lead

Joshua felt the rush of the great winds against his skin, it tore through his hair, it whooshed and moaned. The Lord split the waters of the Red Sea into two great walls, and Joshua along with a great multitude passed through on dry ground.

With the leadership of God’s chosen people conferred upon him, Joshua recalled that great day, when God had delivered them from the clutches of Pharaoh.

They had followed Moses. Would the people follow him? A great expanse of water mocked them. The River Jordan stood between them and the land of promise.

He commands the people to get ready; to consecrate themselves, for God was about to do something extraordinary. They needed to wash themselves for outward purification, while preparing their hearts in devotion towards God.

The Lord even ordained a new way of marching, since the pillar of cloud would no longer be in front to guide them.

The people would follow the ark, but must keep their distance. The Ark of the Covenant symbolised God’s presence and holiness. Only the priests were allowed to carry it. Inside the ark were Aaron’s rod that budded, a jar of manna and the stone tablets on which were written the Ten Commandments.

They had never passed this way before. It was an untrodden path through Jordan. It was also harvest time and the River Jordan was at flood stage.

This time, the air was still. Where was the wind to split the river in two?

Yet, as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the river’s edge, and touched the water with the tips of their toes, the water upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap.

And the water flowing down to the sea was completely cut off, just as God had said.

In the middle of the Jordan River, the priests who carried the ark stood firm on dry ground, while all God’s people passed by and completed their crossing over to the Promised Land.

The River Jordan dries up during flood season even today.

In springtime, the melting snow from the Anti-Lebanon Mountains often creates a flood stage for the river. The river snakes through the Jordan valley, and due to the flood conditions, undercuts the steep banks on the curve.

The banks collapse into mudslides, causing the river to dam itself. Earthquakes occasionally interfere with the flow as well.

The miracle was in the timing. The Jordan River dried up precisely when God said it would.

Such an event must have provided great reassurance for Joshua that God was indeed with him. The people saw for themselves that God was with Joshua the same way as he had been with the illustrious and legendary Moses.

The task may seem daunting and overwhelming, but don’t be afraid of divine appointments.

Whether it be assuming a leadership position in schoolas a house captain or as a school choir member, (those choir auditions can be brutal), never forget that God is with you.

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?     Rom 8:31

Bibliography

Henry, M. 1961, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Zondervan, Michigan.

Pfeiffer C,F. 1990, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers, Illinois.

The Quest Study Bible, 1994, Zondervan Publishing House, Michigan.

Walton, J. 2000, The IVP Bible Background Commentary Old Testament, IVP Academic, Illinois.

Michael. 2019, ‘Fifty Funny Leadership Quotes’, LeadershipGeeks.com. Retrieved 24 Feb 2021 from

50 Funny Leadership Quotes