Exodus 32 – "When Joshua heard ..."
Walking Through Exodus
Devotions - Week 14
Key Text: Exodus 32
I love it when scripture surprises me. As you might imagine, having been a pastor for nearly 30 years I have read a lot of scripture and preached a lot of sermons. However, the Bible still surprises me. Verses that I am sure I have read before can leap out of the page, grab my attention, transform my thinking.
This happened to me when preparing this week’s sermon. As I was looking at how the passage challenges our propensity to fall for the deception of idols, verse 17 snuck up on me:
“When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses “there is the sound of war in the camp””.
Hang on a minute, I thought, where did Joshua come from. In my mind Moses was up the mountain alone, just him and God, and yet here is Joshua asking a question with no introduction or explanation. As we should all do when faced with a biblical question, and before we head to google, we should look back in the text itself. So, I started turning back in my Bible until I got to Exodus 24:13
“Then Moses set out with Joshua his assistant, and Moses went up on the mountain of God”.
Joshua went too!
If you know Joshua’s story this is no surprise. Later we will learn that Joshua went with Moses to the tent of meeting and would remain there even after Moses left. It is Joshua who will, with his friend Caleb, spy out the land and return full of faith. It is Joshua who will lead the people across the Jordan and take possession of the promised land. Joshua the assistant of Moses.
In this week’s sermon we see how Aaron tried to lead alone and gave in to the sinful wishes of the people. But Moses works alongside Joshua. We have said it before, and we will keep saying it – team matters, community matters.
I recently had the huge privilege of attending the thanksgiving service for one of the men who led the church that I got saved into. It was an honour to be there and to remember all the blessing he had fed into me and others like me, many of whom are now leading churches around the world. It was also an opportunity to meet again some of his peers who also fed into my life as a teenager and a young man. I got to say thank you to people who have shaped my life and faith.
Some questions for you to consider:
Remember Community matters, let’s not try and go it alone.
This happened to me when preparing this week’s sermon. As I was looking at how the passage challenges our propensity to fall for the deception of idols, verse 17 snuck up on me:
“When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses “there is the sound of war in the camp””.
Hang on a minute, I thought, where did Joshua come from. In my mind Moses was up the mountain alone, just him and God, and yet here is Joshua asking a question with no introduction or explanation. As we should all do when faced with a biblical question, and before we head to google, we should look back in the text itself. So, I started turning back in my Bible until I got to Exodus 24:13
“Then Moses set out with Joshua his assistant, and Moses went up on the mountain of God”.
Joshua went too!
If you know Joshua’s story this is no surprise. Later we will learn that Joshua went with Moses to the tent of meeting and would remain there even after Moses left. It is Joshua who will, with his friend Caleb, spy out the land and return full of faith. It is Joshua who will lead the people across the Jordan and take possession of the promised land. Joshua the assistant of Moses.
In this week’s sermon we see how Aaron tried to lead alone and gave in to the sinful wishes of the people. But Moses works alongside Joshua. We have said it before, and we will keep saying it – team matters, community matters.
I recently had the huge privilege of attending the thanksgiving service for one of the men who led the church that I got saved into. It was an honour to be there and to remember all the blessing he had fed into me and others like me, many of whom are now leading churches around the world. It was also an opportunity to meet again some of his peers who also fed into my life as a teenager and a young man. I got to say thank you to people who have shaped my life and faith.
Some questions for you to consider:
- Who are you shaping? Who are you encouraging to walk alongside you in this season of your life?
- Don’t panic – it is not about creating another meeting, it is about inviting people to do life with you. Those who have shaped my life simply included me in their lives and the lives of their families. Who could you do that with?
- When did you last thank those who have inputted or currently input into your life? Who is your Moses?
- In your Life Group, household or friendship group this week, why don’t you share stories about people who have blessed you. If you have become a bit isolated, why not pray about who you might approach to speak into your life in this season.
Remember Community matters, let’s not try and go it alone.
This Everyday Devotions was written by Simon Elliott, our Lead Elder.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on "Exodus 32 – Grumbling and Golden Calves", why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Join us as we walk through the book of Exodus by following our daily Exodus Bible Reading Plan.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.
If you would like to listen to the whole of this week’s sermon on "Exodus 32 – Grumbling and Golden Calves", why not download the Everyday Church App or visit our website, YouTube Channel and at our Online Church Services.
This Everyday Devotions is accompanied by a devotional video that you can watch on our YouTube Channel.
Join us as we walk through the book of Exodus by following our daily Exodus Bible Reading Plan.
Follow our Everyday Devotions Playlist for some songs to help you worship God in Spirit and truth this week.