February 2, 2017: SOAP #2618:  Exodus 33-34; Psalm 16; Acts 9

Scripture:  Exodus (NIV) 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 enquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. …
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. …
11 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 assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Observation:  As Moses assistant, Joshua needed to be close to Moses.  He needed to be available to be sent to get what was needed or to take a message to someone for Moses.  As a future leader, Joshua needed to be close to Moses to learn leadership skills.

But more than knowing Moses, Joshua needed to know God!  A day would come when Moses would no longer be available.  There would never be a day when God would not be available!  Moses knew that Joshua would need to hear God’s voice.  Joshua would need to know the right protocol of being in God’s presence.  It was good for Joshua, the future leader of Israel, to linger in the Presence of Almighty God.   Moses let him stay.

Application:  I remember as a young boy of 7 or 8, praying late at the altar on Sunday evenings.  Everyone had gone home except my parents waiting for me.  Most of the lights were turned off and the church door was locked for the night, but I was still at the altar.  My parents never hurried me, never told me it was time to stop praying.  I did not know enough to know what God was doing in my life.  I cannot tell you of any specific message he gave me during those prayer times.  I remember only that it was good to linger in His Presence.

Prayer:   In Your Presence, In Your Presence, there is peace.       In Your Presence, In Your Presence there is joy.        I will linger, I will stay in your Presence day by day      Till Your likeness may be seen in me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!