Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (Exodus 33:10-12)
And while Moses would return to the camp, Joshua did not. He soaked in God’s presence. He lingered.
Background
This passage represents an amazing picture of God’s presence. It was like a pillar of cloud. It was visible. And it captured the attention of the Israelites. For a people that were under captivity for hundreds of years it served as yet another example of God’s power. The people would do more than just passively observe…they would worship. God’s mysterious power begged for a response. It begged to be glorified.
As the author of Exodus, Moses felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to add one small detail at the end of some very powerful pictures in the verses previous. The clause can get easily overlooked… “Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent”.
Reflections
Do you ever wonder what qualities God admires and values?
Moses was one of the most impressive characters in the bible. Few had his faith. Few had his leadership skills. And few had his courage. As a protégé, it would have been understandable if Joshua followed Moses around closely and studied his every move. Because that is what we frequently do right? We most easily follow people.
And yet Joshua was different. It wasn’t Moses presence that Joshua was pursuing by staying in the tent. Moses had returned to the camp. It was the Lord’s presence.
The Lord knew that Moses wasn’t ultimately going to be leading the Israelites to take the promised land. The Lord needed to identify a successor. Conventional wisdom would suggest that a fearless leader would be chosen. Perhaps a great warrior. And yet God’s selection criteria is different. He chose a man who frequently preferred absorbing God’s presence by staying in the tent.
Lord, current culture continues to whisper to me truths that don’t line up to your priorities and selection criteria. Please pour out wisdom and revelation so I can more easily see the world through your lens. Specifically, help me to prioritize time with you. To slow down. To make time. To be someone who consistently lingers in your presence. Use me Lord. Amen.
What if we spent more time lingering in God’s presence? Would it be possible that God would more clearly reveal his specific purpose for our lives?
What if... 