Exodus 33:11
Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
In normal times I probably would see the main focus of this story being the supernatural relationship between God and Moses. How could it not be? You have God visiting Moses in his custom made tent. You have Moses speaking to God face to face like they were friends. What could be more significant in this verse for us to discuss than that?
Well, these aren’t exactly normal times are they? We’re forced to worship on computers or sit in church with masks on. We have assigned seats. We’re trying to sing and worship with our faces covered. And we are social distanced. No these are not normal times, so we need an abnormal word from the Lord.
That’s why I’m enamored by the actions of Joshua. Yes, I’m in awe of the interaction between Moses and the Almighty. But to truly understand it’s significance, you must also study the response of Joshua. Let’s start at verse number one.
Exodus 33:1-3
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
This story marks a significant turning point in the lives of the people of Israel. God promised their ancestors a land of ‘milk and honey’. A place of promise, protection, prosperity and hope. And to make certain His promise was secured, God was willing to dispatch an angel to ensure the success of these modern day Israelites. But He wasn’t willing to accompany them on the journey. They’d have to go without His presence being with them. He called them stiff-necked people. You know. Rebellious. Disobedient. Insubordinate people. Folk stuck in their own way, unwilling to change and unready to repent. Stiff-necked.
So Moses went to his tent to discuss this arrangement with the Lord. Possessing the promised land was a dream come true. Everything the Israelites had ever hoped for was contained in that promise: except one thing. Having Canaan Land without the presence of the Lord wasn’t acceptable.
Now while all this wrangling and negotiating was going on, one person stands out in my mind - Joshua. Joshua wasn’t having any of it. While the people complained, Joshua stayed with Moses. While the people revolted, Joshua stayed with Moses. Even when the people created idols and golden calves to worshipped them, Joshua was up in the mountain with Moses. But when Moses went to join back up with the people and the presence of God was still in the tent, Joshua stayed in the tent. That time Joshua stayed with God.
I pray you guys are seeing what I’m seeing here. So many are trying to return to the mindset of the past. Businesses, sports, jobs and churches want to get back to business as usual. There’s seemingly a spirit of indifference to facts and avoidance of truth in the air. No matter the obvious risk, folk are ready to throw caution to the wind. I guess that’s somewhat expected for the world, but from the Church?!? It’s as if we are determined to go forward no matter if God is in our planning or not. Sounds pretty stiff-necked to me.
But Joshua gave us a clue what to do in uncertain times. Stay in the presence of God.
Dear people of God, I follow Moses most of the time. In other words, I follow the example of the great men and women of God that raised me, taught me, instructed and guided me. But there comes a time when even their guidance and wisdom fails to bring the solution you require in these difficult times. That’s when we gotta start practicing, spiritual distancing. Y’all go ahead, but I’m staying in the presence of the Lord. I’m staying on my knees a little while longer. I’m laying on my face at the feet of Jesus for a moment longer if you don’t mind. I may relax social distancing soon, but no way will I stop practicing spiritual distancing. I’d rather be with Jesus.
God Bless
