Joshua didn't leave the Tent.

Exodus 33:11 NKJV 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.

Pages upon pages have been written about Moses encounters with God – face to face, or mouth to mouth like a friend speaking to another.

Of course Moses and the Lords relationship fascinates me, and maybe I’ll write more another day BUT today as I was reading this verse I was struck by

Joshua… did not depart from the tabernacle.

 The MSG version says
“Joshua, stayed – he didn’t leave the Tent.”

That’s it. This almost obscure statement about Joshua against a massive backdrop of Moses intimacy and relationship with the Lord.

And at first I’m left with more questions than answers.

Why did Moses take Joshua with him to the tent?

Was Joshua inside the tent?

Was Joshua able to hear the conversations between God and Moses?

Why did Joshua stay?

This wasn’t just any “tent”. It was the place where Moses encountered Gods Presence in a dense pillar of cloud. Everyone in the camp knew God was there. Moses had specifically removed the tabernacle and pitched it outside the camp because of the sin of the children of Israel. But they knew God when God showed up.  The people would stop, stand at the doors of their tents, look out at the cloud and worship. God was there, His glory hovered, He was speaking. And yet ONLY Moses and Joshua were desperate enough to draw near, to enter in. The rest were content with Tent door worship from afar, to watch Moses encounter God.

Several commentaries speculate that Joshua was left there to guard the sacred Tent of meeting during Moses absence. And it was probably him and not Aaron or the other priests because Joshua was the only one who hadn’t participated in the golden calf fiasco.

But the writer doesn’t say this. He gives us no reason why Joshua would stay behind.

Others speculate that Moses was training Joshua to be his replacement. Probable considering we don’t hear Joshua’s name again until Numbers 11 where it is made known he had been Moses’ assistant since his youth and then again in Numbers 13 when he is sent out to spy the land.

So back to Joshua staying in the Tent of Meeting.

Joshua obviously sought to stay close to where God had met with Moses. He had witnessed too much.

He had seen the Red Sea part, his enemies drown, He had been given God’s provision of manna and quail and water from a rock. He had battled Amalekites and knew God won that victory.

Remember, Joshua had been with Moses on the mountain 40 days and 40 nights. He waited. He didn’t build idols.

Some translations render “did not depart”  - “would not depart”… in other words, he refused to leave.

I venture that Joshua had tasted just a glimpse of the glory of the Lord and was captivated by His Presence.

Was the Lord preparing Joshua for the future callings and battles to come? Yes, but Joshua seemed to know what we forget, that every battle is literally won in prayer, in that place of intimate fellowship with God.

Joshua was not too busy, or too important to linger where the Presence of God was.

I believe that Joshua was hungry for more. I believe he wanted to hear God for himself. I don’t believe that Joshua was after Moses title, I believe he hungered for Moses relationship with the Lord. Joshua’s hunger to stay in the presence is what prepared him to lead the people.

Joshua wanted an intimate encounter with God for himself.

And years later, God would use Joshua mightily. A lot transpires, but Joshua’s real training ground, took place hidden away in a tent with the Lord.

Joshua does hear the Lord speak beautiful promises

Then God said to Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous . . . Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth . . . be careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:5, 6, 8)

I don’t think these were new words to Joshua. This was a familiar voice, One he had already heard many times. This Book of the Law was in his heart; Joshua had been listening.

He didn’t have to rely on Moses encounters, I believe he had his own history with the Lord.

Why? Because Joshua did not leave the tent.

What is the lesson for me?

Many times, I believe God is longing that we be willing to “stay in” a little while longer but we are in a hurry and distracted and we miss the beautiful things He is longing to teach us. His Presence is what changes us. The tabernacle is the place of God’s molding. It is in HIS presence that we are changed into a Moses. We can’t skip this molding process.

Let us learn from Joshua, and depart not out of the tabernacle till we have gazed upon His glory long enough that He thoroughly purges our hearts. Let us stay on our faces and let us meet with Him. This is the place of Victory.

This Christian life includes a lot of waiting. May we learn to wait as Joshua. Let us “wait” on our face, on the floor of the tabernacle, allowing that cloud of the presence of God to saturate and permeate our being. It’s there that we are changed. As Corinthians says, it’s as we behold His glory that we are changed into His image more and more.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Are you hungry to encounter God, for Him to meet you in the secret place?

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

This same God who met with Moses and Joshua created you to be in communion with Him.

Would you answer the call to sit in His presence and linger awhile?

May we learn to linger & not leave the Tent.