Being with God
We've seen that Joshua was mentored in the areas of leadership and war (particularly that war also has a spiritual dimension). Today we consider two passages that describe Joshua's spiritual tutelage.Joshua didn't go to seminary or Rabbi school - he learnt about God by being with God.
When Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, he left Aaron and Hur to watch over the people, but Joshua went up on to the mountain with Moses while the people trembled at God's presence at a safe distance.
One can't help but wonder if the Israelites would have made the Golden Calf if Joshua was around... Or maybe Joshua had to experience the incredible presence of God so that when he descended with Moses, he would see how pathetic the golden calf really was...
Later, when the tent and tabernacle that God had spoken about on the mountain had been built, Moses would go to the Tabernacle where God would speak "face to face" with Him as "a man speaks with his friend". Can you imagine the intimacy of those encounters?
Joshua seems to have functioned as the gatekeeper to the Tent. One can imagine that people with ambitious intentions would want to be able to claim that they too had heard from God.
But Joshua was not only a gatekeeper - he would have been there to see Moses go into the holy of holies and seen him come out. Even if he saw and heard nothing else, I am sure that the anticipation, joy, contentment and resolution would have been evident in Moses as he went into and came out of the Lord's presence and it would have left a lasting impression on Joshua.
I believe that even if Joshua did not hear God's words to Moses, he would have sensed God's presence. This would have shaped his heart and soul...
(We see a similar journey in the life of a young Samuel growing up in the Lord's presence in the tabernacle at Shiloh...)
The best way to learn about God is to be with God and His people...
| Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. (Exo 4:13) The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (Exodus33:11) |
