Joshua: The Territory Taker

“Joshua… would not depart from the tent.” — Exodus 33:11

The Book of Joshua starts off very powerfully. You can sense the excitement and nervousness of a brand new season unfolding as you read the first chapter. Joshua is leading the people into the much awaited Conquest of Canaan — the entrance into the Promised Land. God tells Joshua that every place the sole of his foot treads will be his (1:3). He tells him three times not to be afraid, but rather to be strong and courageous (1:6, 7, 9). Then during the rest of the book, you see the valiant efforts Joshua made and brilliant strategy that he employed to take the land as God had called him to do. There seems to be a raw confidence in Joshua — a fearlessness  and a faith to do what God said he could do.

But where did he get that confidence in God? And perhaps a better question, how did he learn to hear the voice of God? To look at Joshua, we will pick up where we left off with Moses, during his encounter at the Tent of Meeting in Exodus 33:7-11. Verse 11 says “When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”

Joshua went with Moses to the Tent of Meeting. In that place, he saw the cloud come to the door of the tent and heard the voice of the Lord speak. He saw how Moses sought God and caught the vision of a life completely wrapped up in the pursuit of him. In that secret place, he drew a line in the sand and made a decision that his life would be given over to seeking God and hearing a word from his presence. He, along with Caleb, had faith when other people had none. And he was willing to act accordingly, no matter how daring it was. Read the Book of Joshua and notice how he had clear instructions, military strategy, and favor. He laid hold of the promises of God and brought the people into new territory. Where did that come from? It all started with his pursuit of the voice of the One who spoke from the cloud in the tent.

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This blog is an excerpt from Robert Presson’s devotional book, “People Of His Presence,” available on Amazon: Click here to purchase on Amazon.  Alternatively, the book is available for free when you give a donation of any amount to City Revival Ministries at  cityrevivalnola.com/give. Please indicate that you would like the book when you give.