Element Church Insider

You can read pt. 1 and 2 HERE and HERE.

#3  Moses needed someone to invest in

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.

I talked yesterday about one of the reasons Joshua may have remained behind at the Tent of Meeting.  Today, I want to look at a different one (or additional one).  I think Joshua ALSO remained behind because he wanted MORE of what Moses had.  Joshua saw in Moses SOMETHING DIFFERENT.  He saw that when Moses met with God, MOSES CHANGED!  I think Moses NEEDED a Joshua to invest in.  What HORRIBLE stewardship for Moses, to have the ability to speak to God FACE TO FACE, and not share that with a Joshua by investing in him.  Coaching them.  Discipling them.  Without a Joshua to share it with, I’m not sure Moses would have continued to receive it.

If you’re a pastor/leader this question should wreck you.  Does your time with God make Joshua’s want more of what you have?  Seriously!  Does the way you live, and God’s work IN you (not by you or through you) leave something desired by Joshua’s around you? Do you have a Joshua you’re WILLING to and INTENTIONALLY investing in?

If you are a Joshua, have you found a Moses to learn from?  Is there a pastor/leader in your life that is “rubbing off” on you?

Every Moses needs a Joshua,

Jeff

You can read Part 1 HERE if you’d like.  Talking about some things that inspired and encouraged me in the relationship of Moses and Joshua during the Exodus and 40 year journey in the wilderness.

#2  Moses needed someone to stay behind sometimes

Exodus 33:11 says Inside the Tent of Meeting the Lord would meet with Moses face to face, as one meets with a friend.  Afterward, Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted Moses, Joshua son of Nun would remain behind at the tent of meeting.

I’m actually going to talk about this from Joshua’s perspective later this week.  As I read this, I was reminded of something that was VITAL for Moses.  Inside the Tent of Meeting, he would receive “messages” from God.  After he met with God, it was his duty to go back and be God’s messenger.  The people needed ministered to.  They needed challenged.  They needed encouraged or they needed disciplined.  Moses NEEDED someone to stay behind at the tent of meeting.  He NEEDED someone, doing the “behind the scenes stuff” so he could go minister to the people.  Is that what Joshua was doing?

Moses NEEDED someone NOT looking for the glory, but wanting the glory of GOD to be revealed. I believe Joshua had a heart for the people to HEAR from God (through Moses), and to SEE God for who He was, so he stayed behind, releasing Moses to be God’s man.  I believe Joshua realized that when he stayed behind, the people moved forward.

Every pastor/leader BETTER understand how VITAL behind the scene Joshua’s are to the ministry.  WITHOUT Joshua’s who are willing to NEVER be the face of  ministry, ministries would never have a face.

If you are a Moses, when’s the last time you thanked your Joshua’s for “staying behind at the tent of meeting” so you can go out and be with the people?  If you’re a Joshua, are you WILLINGLY “staying” so your Moses can “go to the people”?  Do you realize that often when you stay, the people move forward?

Every Moses needs a Joshua,

Jeff