Connections

As I began to work my way through the bible this New Year, I asked God to give me fresh eyes on the scripture that I read (almost) daily. God has been revealing connections to me that I haven’t seen in times past.

Today my connections revelation involves Joshua. I’m remembering the middle of the story, where Joshua son of Nun spies on the land of Canaan and he reports back to Moses that the land is good, the Israelites will inhabit it, and the Lord will provide. How did this man come to have this faith when so many of the other spies saw only strong enemies, a lot of work, and destruction for the people of God? I have been discovering the answers to that question in previous chapters of Exodus.
Here are three scriptures I have found, so far, that reveal to me why Joshua had such a heart for God. I’ll make some comments after you read all three sections.

Exodus 17:10-13
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 24:9-14
Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.
The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”

Exodus 33:7-11
Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 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.

During the events of Exodus 17, Joshua led a small army of men against a warring nation. To sum it up, it was only when Moses raised his hands in obedience to God that Joshua won the battle. Joshua had a small force of homeless, brick-making slaves to lead against a nation. I would imagine that Joshua’s response to the victory of the Israelites was pure gratitude toward God for saving his life as well as amazement at how God empowered him to lead the men. Would this be enough to convince you that God is worth following? Well, it doesn’t end there.

In Exodus 24, Moses and many other Israeli head-honchos were invited to dine with God at the foot of Mount Sinai. We see Joshua, now titled Moses’ aide, is allowed to tag along. Not only does he dine with the leaders, he and Moses are invited by God to spend time on the mountain in God’s presence. And, they get to be there for 40 days!!! Joshua had 40 days to bask in the glory of and hear the words of the Lord. Convinced yet?

In Exodus 33, Moses meets daily with the Lord. Again, Joshua is by his side. The glory of the Lord, which is the pillar of smoke, comes to the tent of meeting so that Moses and God can talk. Joshua is not only there to witness and experience it, he doesn’t leave! Moses returns to govern the camp and his faithful aide remains in the tent where he had experienced the presence of God.

These three glimpses of Joshua’s life show what the power of being in the presence of the Lord can do. It can give you the faith and the strength to stand against the established, older, and “wiser” leaders and proclaim that the Lord will give you what he promised. Spending so much time in the presence of the Lord softened his heart toward the Lord that he knew the power, he knew the glory, and he didn't deny what the Lord could do when put to the test. It is the same with us. As we spend time in the presence of the Lord, our resolve, our heart, our faith, and our sensitivity are strengthened that we can stand against a world full of people who say we believe in rubbish. Unfortunately though, the story doesn’t end there.

Joshua wasn’t the only one who experienced miracle after miracle hand-picked by God. Remember the plagues on Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire by night and smoke by day, the quail and manna provided for food, the striking of a rock that produced clean, drinkable water, and many more? The ENTIRE CAMP of the Israelites experienced all of these things. When they came to the foot of the Promised Land, what was their response? The same as time and time again in the desert; they grumbled, they complained, they decided that they preferred slavery to obedience and trust. Same God. Same presence. Same miracles. Different response.

So my question now is: Who do you want to be? Would you rather be a grumbling Israelite who experiences the presence of God and then dismisses that heart knowledge when the going looks a little rocky, or would you rather be a Joshua who not only experiences God’s presence but stays there as long as you can being strengthened for the next challenge? I know which one I choose and I pray my actions and deeds will show strength of character that can only come from spending time in the presence of the Lord and choosing Him from all other choices.