Lingering In The Presence Of God

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 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 aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. - Exodus 33:7, 9, 11

While I was in the car yesterday, I listened to an episode of Christine Caine’s podcast. She was talking through the life of Joshua while he was Moses’ right hand man. Specifically, she walked through Exodus chapter 33 where the tent of meeting is described.

This tent is where Moses could sit in the presence of God and talk to God like a friend, as Scripture describes it. According to the text, Joshua would also be in the tent, but I think it’s important that we notice a detail mentioned about Joshua in Exodus 33:11. The verse says, “Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” Another version says, “Joshua lingered in the tabernacle.”

In other words, Joshua lingered in the presence of the Lord. He stuck around. He didn’t leave when everyone else left, including his leader, Moses. He stayed back and spent more time where God was present.

After Christine Caine finished reading this portion of Scripture, she asked this question, “Are you willing to linger in the presence of God?”

So many of us want to be in the limelight. We want to be known. We want to be seen. We want to be leaders. But in the meantime, right now, are we willing to linger in the presence of God where we are unseen, unknown, and where the only person we’re leading is ourselves?

Joshua would end up being the person who would lead the Israelites into the Promise Land. His name would end up being known and recognized for thousands of years to come. But before any of that happened, he chose to make a point to linger with God, to stay in His presence. And I think Joshua’s example is one we should all follow.

There was one more quote Christine Caine said in this particular podcast episode that I wrote down. She said, “If you are not willing to linger in the tabernacle, then you are not ready to do anything for God in public.” Your relationship with the Lord starts in private, in the quiet, unknown, unseen places where it’s just you and God. So don’t bypass that time with Him, friend. Don’t skip over your intimate time with your Heavenly Father because you’re too focused on what you can do for Him in public. Choose to linger in the tabernacle.