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Ever hear of Joshua, the son of Nun? If you were privileged to attend Sunday School at all you are probably familiar with some of his accomplishments:
Of course, he is responsible for many other things as well. One thing about Joshua struck my attention this week and it is found in Exodus 33:7-11:
“Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle.
And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.”
Did you see that?! Joshua, the servant of Moses, who walked with him, did his bidding and learned everything he could from the great man of God, did not leave the door of the tent of meeting when Moses went back to camp.
All of the other people watched from their own tent door as Moses went in and out of the tabernacle. That is where God communicated to Moses what He desired for the children of Israel to do, how to act, where to go, etc. He talked with him “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend”!
Dutifully, Joshua lay prostrate outside the door of the tabernacle while Moses was inside. But when Moses had finished, Joshua stayed.
Why?
Most of it will be speculation but we can assume with confidence that Joshua was after the heart of God. He knew where Moses got his strength; he wanted the same.
He had watched God perform miracle after miracle through Moses and if he was to be any leader at all he would need that same power. There was only one way to get it and that was to not leave the presence of God!
Friends, we need not think we can do great exploits for God without spending time with Him! We must sacrifice of our time and actually develop relationship with Almighty God if we expect to be used of God.
[Tweet “If we want the power of God, we must connect to the Source!”]
We don’t have to be in a Tent of Meeting, or a Tabernacle or a Church building to connect to God. But it is necessary food to our souls to be in fellowship and worship with others of like-precious faith.
The Holy Spirit is alive and working in the hearts of His children, if you have been filled with that spirit. But just like any other relationship, if there is no communication, then there is no fellowship, no sharing and no imparting.
Are you like Joshua today? Are you standing at the door waiting on God, desiring to hear His voice, feel His presence and drink in His glory?
Or are you in a hurry? Too busy to stop and spend time with the Savior, too many irons in the fire that you cannot pause long enough to connect to the power?
You will be infused with power from on high! Jesus will meet you at YOUR Tent of Meeting, your place of prayer, whenever you call on His name.
You will be strengthened, blessed and given courage to take on whatever comes your way and lead others to come to know the Savior.
