No man will [be able to] stand before you [to oppose you] as long as you live. Just as I was [present] with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. - Joshua 1:5-6 AMP

Joshua is first introduced as a character in God's story in Exodus, where we find him leading in the fight against the Amalekites as Moses stands atop a hill, overlooking the battle with his arms held high. Joshua is introduced to us as one of Moses' core leaders, one whom he trusts and whom God would later appoint to take on the mantle of leadership of God's people after Moses' death on Mt. Nebo (Deut. 34). Why did God choose Joshua? What qualities or characteristics distinguished Joshua from the millions of other Israelites? What is the living God looking for when hiring a new leader?

We all desire to be someone God can use, so by examining the life of Joshua, we can get an idea of what God is looking for. (Note: I will only be looking at the life of Joshua BEFORE he is chosen by God as this will help us to see the type of man he was before the office of leadership)

1. Joshua was a man of FAITH
   Of the 12 spies that were sent out to investigate and survey the promised land, only Joshua and Caleb returned with a report of faith. While the other 10 brought back a report of fear of giants and fortresses and the seeming impossibility of their success, which spread fear like a disease, Joshua and Caleb responded differently.

“'The land through which we passed as spies is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.' But all the congregation said to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones. But the glory and brilliance of the Lord appeared at the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) before all the sons of Israel." - Numbers 14:7-10 AMP

When the rest of the people spiraled into fear, Joshua remembered something that changes everything: "The Lord is with us." Interestingly, Joshua's original name was not Joshua, but Hoshea or Hosea which means, "Salvation." Joshua was around 30 when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt - and as his parents named him while under Egyptian rule, his name was like a prayer for salvation sent out to whoever might listen. Moses, however, changes his name to Joshua which means Jehovah is Salvation - changing the prayer of his name from a cry for help to a statement of faith. God will save.

Where others saw the giants and fortresses of Canaan as roadblocks, Joshua saw them as nothing more than obstacles that God would deliver them through. Why? Because Joshua remembered all that God had promised and proven thus far. How often do we forget yesterday's provision when faced with a new day's problem? People of faith don't walk blindly oblivious to the reality of their circumstance, they just do so remembering that God is with them as he always has.

2. Joshua was a man of PATIENCE
   As we know Joshua was around 30 years old when he left Egypt. That means he was around 70 years old when he assumed command. Not once during those 40 years of being trained and mentored by Moses do we see him challenge Moses' decisions or question his authority.

A quality of patience in a Godly leader is surrender of personal ambition and significance. We must realize that our desire to reach upwards for greatness and significance is God-given when the aim is in reaching for God Himself and His glory, not our own.

No accomplishment, accolade, position, or platform will ever sustain or satisfy our human longing for glory or acceptance, for we were made for the glory and acceptance of the divine. Joshua didn't "run for office." He gives us no indication that leadership was a goal or aspiration, and perhaps this is why God chose Him for it. Some of us will not be ready to step into our God-given destiny until we start desiring it less than we desire God Himself.

3. Joshua was a man of God's PRESENCE

Joshua accompanied Moses when he would go and meet with God. In this way, Joshua was privy to an experience of the glory and presence of God that few had. In Exodus 24, when Moses goes up to the mountain to receive the tablets of stone for the first time, Joshua accompanied him.

Now the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and stay there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments which I have written for their instruction.” So Moses arose with Joshua his attendant, and he went up to the mountain of God. And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. - Exodus 24:12-14 AMP

Moses also took Joshua with him into the tent of meeting as seen in Exodus 33.

Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the doorway of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tent door, all the people would rise and worship, each at his tent door. And so the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his attendant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. - Exodus 33:9-11 AMP

What we see here is the same thing we see so often throughout the story of God, and I believe it is the secret to discovering what pleases the heart of God most: a desire for God's presence. Joshua discovered what Adam and Eve had at the beginning, what caused Jacob to wrestle with God all night, what Moses found so compelling in the burning bush, and what compelled David to put the Ark of The Covenant in a tent next to his house instead of returning it to the tabernacle. Joshua developed a love for God's presence. So much so that when Moses got up to leave the tent of meeting Joshua "Would not depart from the tent." He would remain with God.

More than God wants to use us in this world, He wants us to know Him. Why did God choose Joshua? The same reason God chooses us, because He knew Joshua would choose Him.

For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in His complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers. - Romans 8:29 AMP

When we become lovers of God's presence we embody a life that is able to worship Him in Spirit and Truth. No circumstance or season can rob us of that which has the most value to our lives: Him. Therefore, we can truly live strong and courageous lives, just as God commanded Joshua.