I love to read the Bible narrative about the man Moses. He had given up on his dream of freeing his people from Egyptian bondage and had settled into a simple life of tending his father-in-law’s flocks. As he led the sheep in search of pasturage on the backside of the desert, God called to him from a burning bush and Moses’ life was changed forever. Following the instructions God gave him. Moses faced down the leader of the Egyptians, the political superpower of the day. God did wonders in the land, bringing one plague of judgment after another on Egypt, until the Israelite slaves walked out of the land in freedom.
Despite the epic nature of Moses’ encounter with God in the desert and his subsequent journey, the part of his life that grips me is that he never “encounters” God again. Let me explain. The dictionary defines an encounter as a meeting that is unexpected, casual, or brief. Moses did encounter God on the rocky side of Mount Sinai that day, but he was never casual about maintaining the divine connection. Instead, Moses was intentional and passionate about God’s presence at every juncture in the biblical narrative. He engaged God in conversation and relationship for the rest of his life. He lived with a consumed heart, ever pressing into the presence of God. Moses was ignited in front of God alone and burned before Him alone.
But as much as I like the story of Moses, he was not the leader who brought the Israelites into the land of Canaan as their inheritance. It was his protégé Joshua who walked across the Jordan River with the people into Canaan. Joshua was Moses’ young servant, attending his physical needs, following his instructions, and waiting for the man of God to move. (Ex 24:11) When Moses was nearing the end of his life, the Lord didn’t have far to look to find a man who was fascinated with His presence. God instructed Moses to appoint Joshua his successor. (Num 27:18)
Joshua stood in front of Moses and grew fascinated with the God that held the man in His grip. As he watched Moses gaze in wonder, He began to do the same. He lingered in the Lord’s presence in the tent of meeting after Moses had gone back to the people. (Ex 33:11) He began to carry the fire that burned in Moses’ heart. Joshua didn’t start the journey in the spectacular way Moses did, but the journey still took him into spectacular exploits for God and for His people.
So who are you, Moses or Joshua? Maybe you burn before God alone. Then DO IT! Pursue it! Burn in your prayer closet and refuse to live bored in front of a holy God. Make meeting with and engaging Him the high mountain you choose to climb over and over. God is still looking a Moses who will live consumed by His presence.
But maybe you feel like your spiritual life has been a shallow experience. If you find yourself yearning for more, rest assured that God is setting you up to go deeper. Ask the Lord to place someone in your life who stirs your heart for God when you’re with them, and then lean into that relationship when He answers. Glean wisdom from their words and follow their example. Let their fire ignite inside of you. Refuse to live without passion. God’s eyes still look for a Joshua.
