Joshua 17:14-17 (ESV)
14 Then the people of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since all along the LORD has blessed me?” 15 And Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” 16 The people of Joseph said, “The hill country is not enough for us. Yet all the Canaanites who dwell in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.” 17 Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, “You are a numerous people and have great power. You shall not have one allotment only,
Leadership vs Complaining
We have all experienced it. No matter how great the mission, no matter how great the provision of support, we have those in our organizations and stakeholders that complain. Complaining is a national pastime. It is as much of a sport for some as eating is for most others. Complainers drink in dissatisfaction and spew out complaints. In archetype language this is the “orphan” voice. The voice that feels abandoned (even though they a probably not) and powerless (even though the “way” they express their fear gives them some form of power over others). Joshua was a leader who was ordained by God and he was leading a people chosen by God. You would think in that scenario NO ONE would complain. But, the nation of Israel had a history of it. They complained under Moses’ leadership and continued under Joshua. In the above text we read that the tribe of Joseph didn’t like the portion of the land they were given. They thought, since they were a “large” tribe, they should have more than “one” lot of land. They wanted more land that was “easy” to acquire. Joshua’s job in this story was to make sure they arrived in the Promise Land and to designate who received what part of the territory. His job was NOT to secure it for them. You have to love Joshua’s response to these professional orphan-voice, complainers. Note:
1. (15a) Joshua agrees with them and recognizes they are a “numerous” people. There is nothing wrong with affirming the complaint. Often the orphan voice is very much in the know about the problem. That is not the problem. The issue is, they ONLY focus on the problem. Joshua does not dispute the complaint (that the lot they were given was “too narrow” for them). Joshua agrees with them. That is a powerful leadership lesson.
2. (15b) Joshua reminds them, however, of the agreed upon normative that was set for them and others. Joshua is not hesitant to outline the strategy and plan that was already established. He does not invent another plan just for the complainer. He simply restates the plan everyone in the community (organization) had agreed upon. Joshua is consistent in his application of the strategy.
3. (15b) Joshua reminds them of the strategy to solve the problem. He tells them, “... go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, ...”. If they need more land, Joshua tells them to clear more land.
4. (16) Joshua allows them to continue to vent their need. Complaining is a habit. It is not typically changed simply by a directive. Joshua shows remarkable patience as he allows them to once again restate the reason they came to him. They actually articulate the problem again in different terms. Joshua allows them to present their challenge, without shaming them or shutting them down (or, transferring them to another department). It might be wised to remember that Moses was so frustrated over this complaining nation, that his anger caused him to disobey God and he was NOT allowed to enter the promise land. Joshua had a good example in the life of Moses on how not to lose your cool over complaints.
6. (17) Joshua empowers them to solve the problem. It would be a good assumption that the reason they were complaining was to solicit Joshua into solving THEIR problem. Joshua DOES solve it - by empowering them to go forth and fight for what they want. Joshua talks to them about the skill set they have to meet the challenge before them. He does not flex his own muscles, he prepares them to flex their own. He states, “You are a numerous people and have great power.” Public and private praise is a great motivator. Belief in someone’s ability is inspirational.
Joshua restates the strategy and shows that he believes in them. He does not “rescue them.” He simply keeps the mission before them, belief in them and outlines the strategy to them. He can’t do the work for them and he does not. He does not transfer other resources from other tribes to help them. He simply puts faith in the strength they have to accomplish the goals they want. Leaders have to deal with complainers every day. Joshua gives us one way to accomplish that large task.
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