How does Deuteronomy 1:38 encourage us to support and uplift our leaders today? Setting the Scene “Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, he will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.” (Deuteronomy 1:38) Moses, the revered leader, is told he will not enter the Promised Land. Instead, Joshua will lead. God’s single directive to Moses about Joshua? Encourage him. The word carries ideas of strengthening, confirming, cheering on, and pouring courage into another. God’s Heart for Leaders • Leadership is God-appointed (Romans 13:1). • Leaders bear weighty responsibility for others’ welfare (Hebrews 13:17). • Because of that weight, God commands His people to lift their leaders, not leave them isolated. How Moses Was to Encourage Joshua • Public affirmation – Moses laid hands on Joshua before “the whole congregation” (Numbers 27:18-20). • Shared authority – Moses willingly passed the baton rather than guarding power. • Persistent support – Though Moses would die, his encouragement created momentum Joshua would carry into Canaan. Timeless Principles for Us 1. Recognize the leader God has raised up. 2. Speak courage into that leader’s heart. 3. Provide practical help that keeps the leader’s “hands steady” (Exodus 17:12). 4. Pray consistently for wisdom, stamina, and purity (1 Timothy 2:1-2). 5. Esteem leaders “very highly in love on account of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). Practical Ways to Uplift Leaders Today • Send a thoughtful note or text highlighting a specific way God used their ministry. • Guard them with intercessory prayer—set reminders, fast occasionally, or gather with others to pray. • Offer tangible assistance: childcare, a meal, administrative help, or covering a duty they normally shoulder. • Defend them against gossip; correct misinformation rather than fueling it. • Celebrate victories publicly, weep with them privately in losses (Romans 12:15). • Give constructive feedback in humility and at appropriate times. • Commit to long-haul encouragement—“let us not grow weary in well-doing” (Galatians 6:9). Benefits of an Encouraged Leader • Joyful service instead of burdened leadership (Hebrews 13:17). • A people more eager to follow into “new territory.” • Healthier churches, families, and communities, for “with an abundance of counselors there is victory” (Proverbs 11:14). • God’s purposes advanced as courageous leaders guide us to inherit the promises set before us. Just as Moses’ words fortified Joshua for conquest, our timely encouragement can equip today’s leaders to finish their God-given assignments with courage and joy. |
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