Parenting and leadership wisdom from Joshua

Now that the Lord has given the land to Israel, and taken Joshua off of the battleground, the rest of the book (chapters 13-24) focuses on Joshua’s leadership as he establishes the house of Israel.  His role shifts from Patriot to Papa, and he does it brilliantly.

19:49 When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. 50 By command of the Lord they gave him the city that he asked, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he rebuilt the city and settled in it.

Disclaimer: these thoughts must be balanced with the thoughts from the previous post in this series.

A while back I was checking out my wife (common practice)…and I realized she was crying (common practice). This could have meant several things.  In order of likelihood:

1. A Jesus moment of some sort, causing her to feel particularly grateful
2. Bryce did something especially adorable
3. One of those AT&T commercials is on
4. no discernible reason
5. Something really sad or scary has happened

This time, it was #1.  She looked at me and said: “We’re in the big room now.” So, obviously, I began to weep right along with her…er,uhm…actually, I said, “what the heck are you talking about? Have you been drinking again?” (she never drinks).  She said,

“Growing up, my parents were the ones in the big bedroom.  They took care of me.  They took care of the house.  They took care of everything.  They were the ones in the big room.  Now we’re in the big room.”

There’s a huge amount of responsibility that comes from being in the big room, and parents have to accept that.  Also, there’s a huge amount of respect that comes with being in the big room, and parents have to assert that.  It was God’s direct command that Joshua be given the city of his choosing…that he be honored as their leader, and the father of their nation.  He got the big room.  He got the big room and all of the responsibility and respect that comes with it.

A lot of parents have a hard time asserting their authority.  I get it.  Me too.  My son’s not yet two, and it’s already a struggle.

I want to be his buddy, and I want to be fun, and I don’t ever want to discipline him.  I want to let it slide every single time…’cause he’s so stinkin’ cute, and I love him so much it aches.

But I don’t get that choice.  I’m in the big room now.  I have to do what’s best for him, every time.  I have to discipline him, and at times that means I can’t be his buddy.  I have to teach him to respect his mother and me.  Not because I need to be respected, but because the Bible says that he needs to respectful.

It’s my job to help him be what God’s shaping him to be.

What about you? Has your desire to be their buddy upended your calling to be their parent?  Have you been struggling to be a disciplinarian?