You Can Do It

And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: but the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. Joshua 17:17‭-‬18 KJV

Here is Joshua addressing Ephraim and the remaining tribe of Manasseh. They wanted more land but not more work. After all their son was now the leader.Joshua was from Ephraim. One commentator says that the way they talked , ” ..betrayed a spirit of discontent mingled with cowardice and unbelief”. Joshua reminded them that there still remained land yet to be occupied. Their excuse that the giants dwelling in the hill country are experts in the use of technology for war, meant little to the leader who has seen God at work. They were encouraged to get more land. Mathew Henry adds to the discussion on the people’s attitude. ” Men excuse themselves from labour by any pretence; and nothing serves the purpose better than having rich and powerful relations, able to provide for them; and they are apt to desire a partial and unfaithful disposal of what is intrusted to those they think able to give such help.” Joshua was not the leader to fall for that. He did not play the indigene card they tossed at him. He sent them back to faith. That’s the path for successful leadership. Do it to your team and put in a good word as Joshua did. Tell them they are a great people.