Before he led, he followed

Joshua didn't come out of the womb ready to lead Israel into their promised land. He had the calling on his life before he was born according to Psalm 139, but there was time for training before he walked it out. I believe though too, the time of preparation is just as important, and just as much a "call of God" as when you are seeing the fruit of that preparation (i.e. Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land).

Joshua walked closely with Moses. The first mention of Joshua is when Moses tells him to go fight a battle in Exodus 17:9. Joshua did as he was instructed and they won the battle. I love what verse fourteen says in following, "And the Lord said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua..." This is so powerful. God had divinely appointed Joshua to walk with Moses and this is where (from what we know) that Moses began mentoring and speaking into the life of Joshua.

This is so key for leaders - Moses was to rehearse in the ears of Joshua what God had done for them. When you rehearse things in your mind, meditate on scripture, it will mold and transform your thinking (Romans 12:2). We will all inevitably be molded and transformed by one thing or another. It will only depend on what we constantly think on. God had instructed Moses to rehearse in Joshua's ears God's faithfulness and what He had done for them in this difficult situation.

side note: You will often find in the old testament where different memorials were set up to give honor and glory to God. They were for remembering and passing down to the generations of what God had done for them.

This for Joshua would be important because of what He would face later. To carry out the things God had called him to, he had to have the truth of God's faithfulness and character deeply rooted in his heart. It started with what he meditated on...and led to great victories in great battles later on, which led to fulfillment of the promise.

What do you meditate and rehearse in your mind?

Will it lead you into the promises of God, or away from them?