In Exodus 33:7-11, an interesting detail about Joshua stood out to me that I never noticed before. This passage is about how Moses would go outside of the camp of the Israelites and set up the “Tent of Meeting” where he would meet with the Lord. A pillar of cloud (the presence of God) would hover over this tent while the Lord spoke to Moses. The NLT says that Moses would speak to God, face-to-face, like a friend. How amazing is that!

Now notice what the last sentence of verse 11 says… “Afterwards, 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.” Why did Joshua stay behind after Moses left? We will later read in Numbers 27:12-23 how God instructs Moses to commission Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Numbers 27:18 says that the Lord said to Moses, that Joshua is “a man in whom is the Spirit.“

Do you think there’s any connection between Joshua lingering in the presence of the Lord and his calling to lead the people of Israel? Absolutely! Joshua did indeed learn from Moses, but the time he spent in the secret place of the Most High equipped him to be strong, courageous, Spirit-filled and one of the greatest military leaders of all time. We will read in the coming weeks all about Joshua’s life and his many exploits and victories to the glory of God.

Do you know that you have a calling, a destiny appointed by God? How are you preparing yourself? Or, if you are already walking in your calling, how are you remaining in a state of readiness to obey the voice of God? The answer is in the secret place. The face-to-face, friend-to-friend encounter with the Lord is the key to effectiveness and walking in the anointing in which He has called us. There is no amount of training, education, hard work or dedication that can replace what is birthed in one-on-one time with our Lord.

God took notice of Joshua‘s desire and hunger. Joshua “understood the assignment” and took his destiny seriously. I want to be like Joshua. I want to be one that lingers in the presence of the Almighty!

I pray for an awareness of our calling and such a hunger for the presence of God that we wait in His presence, daily. During your time of daily devotion today, I encourage you…stay just a little longer…In His presence, there’s fullness of joy! They that wait on the Lord renew their strength. They run and do not grow weary. They walk and do not faint.