In June 1990, I attended my nephew’s high school graduation. During graduation, a member of our local school board approached the microphone and delivered these words: “Men, it’s time to step aside and let the women lead.”
It’s not just at high school graduations that this sentiment has been expressed. Over the last few decades, television ads, sitcoms, and movies portray men as stupid, laughable, childish, immoral, irrelevant, and out of touch. Women are the ones who are knowledgeable, respectable, and running things. Sometimes, a child has more sense than his father. Why would a man risk stepping up, speaking up, and being criticized? Because God asks you to do so, that’s why.
Some men must learn what it means to lead without a role model to show the way. Many have to overcome feelings of inadequacy to step up. The concept of servant leadership is foreign to the leader who is used to controling every situation. In addition, God sometimes asks us to take a position contrary to public opinion. It is not easy to learn to lead well. Joshua faced formidable opposition, but decided to step up anyway.
In Number 13, God and Moses send 12 spies into the Promised Land. Their job is to give a report about the strength of the people, the land, its produce, the richness of its soil, and whether the cities were fortified. Ten spies said the land was rich, but the people were impossible to defeat. Only Joshua and Caleb filed a minority report and stood against the opinion of the entire nation. They believed God and His promises.
Once, God tested Joshua asking him to do something against good judgment. In Numbers 5, Joshua had become the general of Israel’s army. God parted the waters of the Jordan River and Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land. After crossing into enemy territory, God gave him a counter-intuitive command: Circumcise your entire army. Can you imagine the unpopularity of that decision—disabling the warriors for a few days after they were already in enemy territory and blocked by the Jordan River from making a rapid retreat? Nevertheless, Joshua obeyed God even though it was unpopular.
At the end of his life, (Joshua 24:15), we see Joshua at age 110. Joshua still is unwavering in his commitment to serve God no matter what. Here, he draws a line in the sand and says, “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
What about you, men? Society is telling you one thing, and it is unpopular to take an opposing stand. Are you willing to lead with confidence—strong but gentle?
For a fuller treatment of this topic, you may purchase a copy of The Marriage Dance (on sale at Amazon) or read the first two chapters free today.
