Are You A Great Follower?

A little girl who went with family to visit her aunt for a month several hundred miles away.  The family drove to the aunt and left the dog with neighbours. But almost immediately the dog ran away, to find her.  Amazingly, the dog managed to track her and followed her all the way! Until the aunt’s place.  What a great follower!

We live in a society that does not know how to follow well.  But we cannot have an army full of generals.  If there were no followers, there would be chaos.  If there were only poor followers, the group would go around in circles in the desert – like the group with Moses.  But when there are great followers – they cross the Jordan River to take the land! 

Great followers + great leaders = great successes 

Society tells us to do it our own way.  Bible tells us to do it God’s way.  God’s way involves becoming a great follower.  We hear a lot about becoming great leaders.  We also need to understand about becoming great followers.  Great followers + great leaders = great successes.  Joshua + nation of Israel = take Promised Land. That is why God wants us to be great followers.

Did you know that Jesus was a great follower?  John 4:34 (NIV)  ""My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."  Do you want to be a great follower?  Let’s consider 3 main qualities of great followers.

FOLLOW GODLY LEADERS THAT FOLLOW GOD (v10-15)

We should not simply follow any leader.  We have seen the disaster of Germany where many followed Hitler into WWII.  Rather, we should follow leaders because we follow God.  In other words, we should seek leaders who follow God, as His representatives. Hence, great followers look for godly leaders to follow.  What are some qualities of these leaders who follow God?

Great followers look for godly leaders to follow.

Leaders who trust in God

Joshua 1:10–11 (NIV) So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ”

Joshua’s actions demonstrated his total trust in God’s instructions to him.  In v2-9, God instructed Joshua to cross the Jordan River and take the land that God has given to them.  Despite the fact there were large fortified cities, well-armed armies, foreign unfamiliar terrains and other great obstacles yet Joshua trusted God!

At that point, the Jordan River was in full flood.  Clearly an impossible obstacle to cross for over a million people yet Joshua trusted God.  He did not even bother to build a bridge or boats for he trusted that God would accomplish a miracle! He told the entire nation in v5 “…tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”  Joshua knew His God.  Joshua heard from God.  Joshua trusted His God! That was enough.

Leaders who trust in themselves or others more than God – will fail God.

Leaders who trust in themselves or others more than God – will fail God. Isaiah 31:1 (NIV) "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD."  God is never pleased with such misplaced trust.

Leaders who trust in God – will succeed.

Leaders who trust in God – will succeed.  Psalms 115:11 (NIV) "You who fear him, trust in the LORD-- he is their help and shield."  For they discovered the secret of tapping into the power of God.  Leaders who trust in God – you can sense it!  Because God is with them.  God will back them up!

Loren Cunningham of YWAM was preparing a major outreach for the Munich Olympics in 1972. He wanted a warehouse to house a printing press to print pamphlets for the Olympics.  When his assistant found a castle an hour away from Munich, they sense the inner confirmation from the Holy Spirit.  They had no money, but they trusted God.  Within a few months, God provided for them to pay off leasing the entire castle. 

How much will you dare to trust God in the midst of huge challenges?

 

Leaders that do not compromise God’s Word

Joshua 1:12-15 (NIV) ¹² But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, ¹³ “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ ¹⁴ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them ¹⁵ until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

Joshua did not neglect God’s Word to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.  Num 32:20-22 (NIV)  "²⁰ Then Moses said to them, "If you will do this--if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, ²¹ and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him-- ²² then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD."  It was not only a command from Moses, but from God – it was their obligation before God.

This required the 2 tribes and half-tribe to join their brothers in battle, leaving behind their families.  It was a tough instruction to expect of these tribes.  These men might have rejected Joshua’s command.  But Joshua did not flinch from the task.  He did not compromise.  He followed through.

Here are some quick reasons why we should follow such leaders:

• They can be trusted to do it God’s way.  Leaders with integrity will not compromise God’s principles. Even if it means their life, they will not compromise God’s Word. That is why spiritual leaders must know and love God’s word deeply.  We can trust them, for God’s heartbeat resonates in them. 

  
  

• They will be wise in God.  Leaders who love God’s Word and apply it consistently will grow in godly wisdom.  They will not make silly mistakes!

• They will succeed in God.  Because they carry out for God’s will, God’s way!  God will back them up.

  
  

• They will be greatly used of God.  Just like Joshua!

Consider this. Could it be that if we fail to follow such godly leaders, we fail to follow God? 

For all leaders, you must make sure you follow God rightly. For all followers, you must make sure you follow whole-heartedly such leaders.  Do you want to be a great follower?  Follow godly leaders that follow God, those who trust in God and do not compromise His Word.

FOLLOW LEADERS BY OBEYING FULLY

What does it mean to obey fully?

Obey just as we obey God

Joshua 1:16-17a (NIV) ¹⁶ Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.

The 2.5 tribes not only agreed to Joshua’s commands but lifted it to a higher level!  The committed themselves to full obedience, as if they were obeying God!  For they understood that obeying our leaders is obeying God.  That is how God commands us to obey our leaders. Heb 13:17 (NIV) "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Conversely, rebelling against our leaders is rebelling against God because they are delegated authority from God.  What happened when Miriam rebelled against Moses? In Numbers 12:1-2, 8-10 was recorded God judged Miriam with the disease of leprosy. The disease of murmuring, the disease of resistance is essentially a disobedience towards God.

The principle of divine authority is where the delegated authority is God’s representative. 

It is crucial to understand the principle of divine authority is where the delegated authority is God’s representative.  So, when we obey the representative, in effect we obey God.  When we rebel, we also rebel against God.  That is why in my ministry, I a man under divine authority.  For over 30 years as part of the HIM family, I worked under leadership and faithfully served them as I served God. 

Partial obedience, selective obedience, deferred obedience is in reality disobedience. 

We ought to obey God fully, not partially.  Deuteronomy 28:1 (NIV) "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth."  Consider this.  Partial obedience, selective obedience, deferred obedience is in reality disobedience. For we are obeying only when it suits us.

King Saul was a classic case of such partial obedience.  In 1 Samuel 15, God told King Saul to destroy the Amalekites, to kill and destroy everything.  Yet in 1 Samuel 15:9 (NIV) "But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed."  Saul tried to rationalize his partial obedience, but God saw through his heart!  It was disobedience. 1 Sam 15:23 (NIV)  "For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.""

At times, obeying God and his leaders incurs a cost.  But a worthwhile cost because it brings greater good for the group and for God’s purposes.  “We learn more by five minutes' obedience than by ten years' study”. Oswald Chambers.

There is tremendous blessing in full obedience. Watchman Nee’s story told about woman, named Charity he was interested in since his teenage years.  However, she was not a believer and was worldly in many ways.  He struggled with this matter for a season.  Then one day, God challenged him.  “Would she be a suitable to be a preacher’s wife?” Finally, Watchman Nee relented and gave up his interest in her.  He continued pursuing God’s mission for him over the next few years and saw God’s provision and blessings.  Some 10 years later he met her again and she had become a fervent Christian. They married and served God together.  God brought blessing to Watchman Nee because he was obedient.

On the other hand, godly leaders do not abuse their authority in God.  Wise leaders rarely command; they request.  They discern when they speak on God’s behalf, and when they may not.

Obey as leaders continue in God

Joshua 1:17b (NIV) “Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.”

The 2.5 tribe’s prayer was that God would continue to be with Joshua.  In effect, God would continue to be with Joshua as Joshua continued to be with God.  Thus, leaders must continue walking rightly before God.  It is crucial to realise that if leaders go against God’s Word, we cannot follow.  For we obey the higher authority of God’s Word.  If leaders disobey God, we cannot follow them in the disobedience.  For we obey God first.

 If leaders disobey God, we cannot follow them in the disobedience.  For we obey God first.

So we are not to follow blindly.  Obey leaders as they continue in God. 

Do we want to be great followers?  Our attitude should be to follow fully.  As if we were obeying God, even though it costs us and as long as the leaders continue in God.

FOLLOW GODLY LEADERS WITH TOTAL COMMITMENT (v18)

Joshua 1:18 (NIV) Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

The 2.5 tribes were so committed to Joshua’s leadership they will enforce it on others!  Now, I am not sure I agree with their harsh implementation although their heart was in the correct place. 

Our support to our leaders helps:

• Enhance their leadership.  In Exodus 17:8-12, Aaron and Hur enhanced Moses’ leadership by supporting him to hold up the staff while Joshua fought against the Amalekites. We can provide administrative help, be a personal assistant and so forth to assist our leaders. 

  
  

• Enable greater success for the group through our support.

  
  

• Bring greater satisfaction and longevity to the leader. Hebrews 13:17 (NIV) “…Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  When our leaders are joyful, they become more effective, make better decisions, love us more, etc.

Can we commit to support our leaders?

Leaders are human as well; they need encouragement at times.  We should therefore let them know when they are doing a good job.  When they muck up, let them know that we still stand with them.  When they lack confidence, let them know they can do it in God.

Here are some quick practical suggestions to support and encourage them. Pray for them, make ourselves available for them, give our suggestions and offer help where they lack. 

CONCLUSION

God desires all of us to be great followers.  Because great followers cross the Jordan River towards victory.  To do so, it is crucial to follow godly leaders who represent God well by following God faithfully.

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Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim & Lai Ling Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.