seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Exodus 33:7 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. 8 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. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 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. 11 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.
Here's the link to the commentary I read.Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting: After Israel’s heart was turned towards God and after they humbled themselves by removing their ornaments, Moses took the next step towards revival and restored relationship. He initiated a determined effort to seek God, making his own tent a tabernacle of meeting.
Everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp: By making the place of worship outside the camp, Moses clearly drew a line to see who really wanted to draw close to the LORD.
Whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose: The people watched and noticed when Moses worshipped. When Moses worshipped, they also worshipped. Moses prompted the people to draw close to God by his own example.
The pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle: Moses’ tent did not become the tabernacle of meeting simply because he named it so. It became that because God actually came there to meet Moses, displayed by the pillar of cloud.
And all the people rose and worshipped: This was their natural response. Something about Moses and his relationship with God made others want to also worship God.
Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle: The personal revival in the life of Moses was an example to the entire nation, but it was a special example to his servant Joshua. When Moses drew close to God it also drew Joshua close to God, so much so that Joshua did not depart from the tabernacle.
This is a really boring set of verses, IMHO, until you get to the end and then we read that Joshua never left the tabernacle.Moses had to participate in a regularly scheduled "meeting" with God. He had to do it. It was his job.
Joshua just loved to be around God. Moses revered God... Joshua loved God. Moses had to meet with God. God was running the show and Moses was just his "stick". Joshua, on the other hand, just loved the Lord.
Anyone who has spent any time in any church knows a Joshua type. Joshua just loved worshipping God. It took up the majority of his time. You know the type; they'll stay and clean the sanctuary after the morning worship to get ready for the next. They are the ones behind the little counter, offering a cup of coffee. They are the ones setting up the tables for the Potluck. They are the ones who fill in when someone is sick, teaching Sunday School, or greeting people at the door, or preparing the communion bread and wine. They love the Lord and they enjoy being part of it all.
Moses, on the other hand, had to go to the tabernacle. It was his job. He went to God because God put him in charge of the Mission. The Mission was to get the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Moses had a Mission... he was required to go to the tabernacle and everyone watched to make sure he was keeping his schedule with God.
Joshua wanted to be near God.
Moses had to show "faith" because he was required to do so. Moses had to set an example.
Joshua, son of Nun, truly was the example. Joshua wanted to be there.
Joshua....
Stayed because he wanted to be there!
