Stay in the Tent of God
Just as Joshua stayed in the tabernacle, I am praying this encourages and challenges you today to stay in the tent of God. My prayer is that the gift of God will be stirred within you today and to provoke you to want to tarry in the presence and glory of God!
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11
“but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.”
Making Preparations- Joshua did not exit the tent.
According to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, the word tabernacle in this Scripture text means- a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance): – covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent.
Reading up a few verses to Exodus 33:7 we read where Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp of the Israelites, afar off from the camp. He called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. (emphasis and paraphrase mine.)
The forgetful Israelites.
Here we see the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land- a land flowing with milk and honey, along with their leader, Moses, their divine intercessor. The Israelites have seen many miraculous signs and wonders (too many to count!). In fact, in Exodus 20 they seen God in the thunderings and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
The LORD spoke to Moses for him to come up with Him to the mount and He would then (with God’s very own finger!) write what we call the Ten Commandments. Moses and Joshua ended up being at the top of the mount for 40 days and 40 nights.
During this time of Moses being on top of the mount, they thought Moses left them! (after what all the Israelites have seen and experienced during just this short time from escaping from Egypt). They even convinced Aaron to make a golden calf and Aaron ended up making excuses to Moses for them! Moses was so angry (and rightfully so!) he ended up casting the tables out of his hands and breaking them as a result from seeing the calf and the dancing taking place.
Joshua’s first hand encounter of the glory of God!
We find one of the very first mentions of Joshua in the Bible is in Exodus 24:13 when Moses and Joshua was going to the mount of God for the tables to be written. “And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.” So Joshua was Moses’ minister. The Hebrew word Minister here means servant. Joshua was Moses’ servant. One of the first places ever recorded in the Bible of Joshua was Joshua going up with Moses to the mount of God.
Joshua had 1st hand encounter (besides Moses) of the glory of God!
Joshua seen first hand where Moses got his strength from. Moses was in the midst of the cloud in the mount 40 days and 40 nights. Moses was an intercessor- a man of prayer- and sought God on behalf of a nation!
And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.
And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.
And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. Exodus 33:7-10 KJV
“every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp“
We see the Israelites with a Godly Reverence here and with worshipping, but they could have been in this same presence! It took effort to go out unto the tabernacle which was WITHOUT the camp.
“every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp“
The Strong’s definition of the Hebrew word sought is- to search out (by any method; specifically in worship or prayer); by implication to strive after:- ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
The Israelites weren’t striving after, they weren’t desiring, they weren’t seeking. They were satisfied to stay just a distance. We read Joshua did not leave the tent- Joshua remained in the presence of Almighty God! Joshua seen the glory of God!
Why should we want to stay in the tent of God?
Jesus is coming back for a people who are on fire for Him! Revelation 3:15,16 tells us- “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
There is always more of God to attain!
Proverbs 25:2 tells us- “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us- “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Why settle for ‘status quo’ when we can have ENCOUNTERS with the creator of the universe and the creator of our soul?! Just as the many encounters that Moses had with God and Joshua’s encounters with God, we can encounter God too! In fact, Jacob (Genesis 32:28) had such an encounter with God his name was changed from Jacob to Israel! God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), He is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) Deep calleth unto deep! (Psalms 42:7)
Just as Joshua stayed in the tent, let me encourage you and challenge you today to stay in the tent of God! Go out unto the tabernacle of the congregation and search out, strive after, desire and seek God and then STAY IN THE TENT!
Stay in the presence of God!
Stay in the glory of God! “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9,10 KJV
Don’t settle for the status quo- Stay in the Tent of God!
Be on fire for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Just when you think there isn’t more, there’s more of God to attain! There always will be! Stay in the tent! Never settle! Move from glory to glory! Seek God for an encounter daily! Allow the glory of God to saturate you!
I pray you have found this encouraging today and challenged to stay in the tent of God! My prayer is that the gift of God will be stirred within you today! My goal is to provoke you to want to tarry in the presence and glory of God!
