Business Lessons From the Life of Joshua the Son of Nun

 

I believe that Joshua was the greatest general Israel had recorded in the Bible. I know you may want to mention some notable names like David and his mighty men, but have you considered the impact of Joshua’s victories in the nation of Israel?

Oh well! This is not about who the greatest general in the history of Israel is, it is about the invaluable business, leadership and life principles that can be gained by an in-depth study of his life and his story. These lessons are not arranged in a sequential order, but you can make the best out of them and use the ones which apply to you at each moment of your life and endeavours. Intermittently, you may find scriptural references to help you study deeper and find even more truths that I may have skipped.

Let’s look at them together, shall we?

1. Faithful Service is the Surest Way to Rise to Prominence.

The Bible isn’t mincing words when it emphasizes faithfulness in service.

• One of the key requirements of stewards is faithfulness in service [1Cor. 4:2].
• One of the things every leader should also look out for is men who can be faithful in the assignment committed into their hands [2Tim. 2:2].

You should not be given a greater responsibility if you have not been faithful in the little ones, just as you may never become sustainably wealthy if you’re not intentional about mastering the skill of making, managing and multiplying money. If you’re unfaithful in little, you sure will be unfaithful in much. If you’re faithful when you lack, we can attempt trusting your faithfulness when you become affluent.

Joshua’s Record of Faithful Service

• Joshua served faithfully as a spy for Moses: When Moses needed to verify the promises of God about the land they were to possess, he needed twelve spies from the people and Joshua was one of them. If you have ever watched any of the James Bond movies, Mission Impossible or any other movie about spies, you would agree that even though it was in times when weapons weren’t as sophisticated, it wasn’t an easy responsibility. Okay, think about the spies whom Joshua sent who were almost caught but were saved by Rahab the harlot in Joshua chapter 2. Joshua faithfully executed this responsibility and was counted as one of the two who would see the promised land because he presented a good report.
• Joshua was Moses’s assistant: It was recorded of Joshua that he was Moses’s servant [Exod. 33:11] and his assistant [Num. 11:28]. I know we celebrate Moses for going up the mountain twice to receive the commandments but we forget that Joshua went on that expedition with him [Exod. 24:13]. I’m not pointing this out to pair him with Moses but to prove that he was a faithful assistant.
• He was a faithful general under Moses’s command: When required to go to battle Joshua didn’t hesitate but moved at Moses’s command [Exod.17:9-10].

We can see the trait of faithfulness in Joshua but can it also be said that I faithfully laboured in my place of assignment? Whether it’s in church or at the office? Whether it’s a sacred or a secular responsibility? Can I remain committed to the organizational goal even when it feels like I don’t get the desired benefits, commendation or applause?

Smooth Leadership Transition is a Reward for Faithful Service

When you faithfully serve under someone, one of the benefits that comes with it is that you get to share in their honour and public acceptance which can make your life and journey way easier than if you tried to do it alone.

Joshua’s leadership came with public affirmation. Moses gave his authority to him [Num. 27:20] which made him accepted by the whole nation after Moses left the scene.

This is one thing good politicians excel at. They’re ready to serve a master years so that they can take over after him. While most politicians are insincere in their service, we can take a cue from them and make our service faithful.

The Jürgen Klopp – Arne Slot transition at Liverpool in the 2024/2025 season almost felt like the Moses – Joshua transition. Heehee!

Your predecessor can make your life as a leader easier like David did Solomon’s but your faithfulness would have to have been proven. Joshua became who he was because both God and Moses had proven his faithfulness.

Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses [Deut. 34:9].

 

2. Your Leadership is Complete Only When Your Successor Succeeds!

It is very common for us to be focused on breaking through that we forget to also plan for our exit. Many a man is more concerned about his time in office that he forgets that someone coming after him should do better than he has done.

We plan to exit the rat race and give our family a good life but how many of us also plan to ensure that our kids sustain our legacy and not just pass on the money and wealth but also the wisdom that created the wealth?

Some Leaders with a Legacy Mindset in the Bible

• Abraham: God said of Abraham, “he would instruct his children after him.” [Gen. 18:19]
• David: David made sure that Solomon became king before dying else the nation would have been divided by his sons [1Kings 1:28-40]
• Jesus: Jesus told His disciples to make disciples of all nations [Matt. 28:19-20]
• Paul: Paul told Timothy, “entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others.” [2 Tim. 2:2 AMP]. He was concerned about sustaining what he was building.

Moses asked God for a successor and God chose Joshua for him [Num. 27:15-21] but Joshua didn’t plan his succession. It was recorded after Joshua’s death that another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord [Judg. 2:10] & that everyone did what was right in his own eyes [Judg. 21:25].

This is one major problem with politics. Politicians are more concerned about assuming office than the posterity of the state they are sworn in to serve. If we are more interested in the serving than being served, the story would be different.

Many business owners have a plan to build and expand their empire but how many really plan for their succession? You may have gotten into business in rebellion against poverty or initially to survive but what if you built something that would outlive you? In his book The Billionaire Mindset, author Daniel Strauss emphasizes the idea of becoming a part of a large venture than being the whole of a small venture. When leaders don’t let others into their leadership or groom someone to take over from them, they stand the risk of crippling the idea they laboured to establish.

 

3. Courage is a Requirement for Successful Men

I had always wondered why God kept encouraging a grown man to be courageous. I mean, he was over 70 years already. How do I know? It was recorded that Caleb who spied out Canaan with him was 85 years old when Joshua was sharing the lot for the Israelites so I don’t expect Joshua to be afar off in age.

Why Joshua Needed Courage to Succeed

• He was taking over from the greatest leader Israel had seen at the time.
• He was to complete a task that Moses couldn’t because of the rebellion of the people.
• Joshua was just of the two left who had come out from Egypt and seen the wonders of God in the wilderness.
• He was from Ephraim and wasn’t in the lineage of rulers or even priests.
• The lands they were to possess were already occupied by inhabitants and needed to be battled for.

Courage is needed to dare some ventures in life, leadership or business. You would need courage to do what others haven’t been able to do or what others see as unachievable without minding if you would be termed unreasonable or come off as arrogant. You would need courage to break off the limiting beliefs imposed upon you by your environment, education, experiences, and exposures.

Every man who achieved something worthwhile summoned the courage to dare what seemed improbable.

 

4. Your Leadership Sets the Tone for the Next Generation.

Moses was known to be a no-nonsense leader. In his time, if you go against God, you go down. If you oppose God’s people, you become extinct. This trait was passed down to Joshua and was seen in the way Joshua conquered Israel’s enemies and also when Achan dishonored the Lord by taking what he wasn’t supposed to [Josh. 7].

Why then was it recorded that “the generation which did not know the Lord” [Judg. 2:10]  was the generation after Joshua. Where did they miss it? Here’s where:

Joshua’s treaty with the Gibeonites

Joshua had a very straightforward instruction: destroy everything I tell you to except whatever I tell you not to. The Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the leaders of Israel and came into an alliance with them because they knew they would be wiped out by Israel. Joshua found out after the treaty that they were his neighbours and could no longer destroy them because of his oath so he put them under tribute.

After Joshua’s death, this method of putting enemy nations under tribute became a pattern for the Israelites who had a mandate to completely wipe out their enemies. Why was this a bad thing?  The people who lived in the land became a snare to them. After a while, Israel started serving the God’s of the other nations, breaking the covenant they had with God. At other times, the nations revolted against Israel and when they were big enough they even became Israel’s oppressors.

The Impact a Leader has on the Organization

• Values shape the culture of the people:

When a leader values integrity, innovation, or customer experience, it trickles down and becomes the organization’s culture. Just like Joshua’s devotion to God’s instructions influenced Israel’s obedience, your personal values set the tone for how your team thinks, works, and behaves.

• Weaknesses ripple across the organization:

If you struggle administratively, creatively, or relationally and don’t actively compensate for it (through delegation or partnerships), that weakness will eventually show up in your team or business structure. Leadership blind spots often become organizational bottlenecks. Joshua didn’t finish conquering the land, and those leftover nations became thorns in Israel’s side. What you ignore—whether poor communication, toxic culture, or poor systems—will eventually grow into an issue too big to hide.

• Compromises become the team’s standard:

Joshua’s compromise with the Gibeonites, made without consulting God, became a long-term burden for the entire nation. In business, if you compromise quality, ethics, or consistency, your team will follow suit—even when it’s costly to the brand.

• Partnerships affect the whole ecosystem:

Joshua’s treaty with the Gibeonites brought unnecessary conflict. Likewise, in business, wrong partnerships can cost trust, money, or reputation. Your alliances should always align with your long-term goals and core values.

• Discernment determines the direction of the people:

Joshua’s ability (or failure) to discern God’s will directly impacted Israel’s victories and setbacks. In business, poor strategic decisions—like misaligned partnerships or uninformed expansion—can derail the company. Leaders must sharpen their foresight.

• Silence creates space for drift:

Joshua didn’t leave behind a system for continuity. After his death, the next generation strayed (Judges 2:10). In a business context, failure to document processes, develop leaders, or cast clear vision leads to instability after you step away.

• Vision determines the ceiling of the people:

Joshua believed in the promise and fought for it, and the people advanced. A leader who dreams boldly and executes wisely lifts the standard for the entire team or society. Visionless leadership breeds stagnation.

• Personal discipline becomes the silent manual:

Joshua’s obedience and courage became a reference point. In business, your discipline with time, finances, strategy, and people management speaks louder than any policy manual.

• Courage gives the team permission to be bold:

When Joshua marched around Jericho or stood firm in battle, his people found strength in his faith. After David killed Goliath, it didn’t come as a surprise to find out that his men also killed giants. Your courage in launching a new product, standing by an unpopular but ethical decision, or navigating a crisis empowers others to rise too.

 

Your Leadership Is Never Neutral

Whether you lead a business, a team, a nonprofit, or even a family — your leadership is never neutral. Like Joshua, your values, decisions, and blind spots ripple outward, shaping the culture, outcomes, and legacy of those you lead.

When you rise with clarity, courage, and conviction, others rise with you. But when you compromise, avoid tough decisions, or neglect key responsibilities, those under your leadership often inherit the consequences.

The greatest leaders are not perfect — but they are self-aware, principled, and committed to growth. They surround themselves with people who fill their gaps, make decisions with the future in mind, and carry a vision bigger than themselves.

If you want to transform your team, your business, or even your society — start by examining your leadership. Because as the leader goes, so goes the people.

Take 15 minutes this week to reflect on these areas of your life:

• Values: What values are you modeling?
• Weaknesses: What weaknesses are you overlooking?
• Legacy: What legacy are you building?