“…Moses returned to the camp, but his minister Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the [temporary prayer] tent.” ~ Exodus 33:11, AMP.

Moses grew a relationship with God that others feared to possess. He drew near to God, overcoming the fear of the flesh to develop a friendship with God. Most others feared God in ways that caused them to avoid coming too close to His tent, crying out, “Don’t speak to us. Let Moses do the talking.”

Not so for Joshua, the son of Nun. Exodus 33:11 tells us that Joshua, wanting that relationship for himself, stayed in the tent of meeting with God, seeking Him on his own.

Joshua’s desire for relationship made him unafraid to draw near and hear.

When I look at Joshua’s relation to Moses, I see him as one who took on himself the charge of ministry to Moses. Moses was his hero of faith. Following close to him, Joshua wanted to be a man of faith and obedience like Moses. Thus, when Moses left the presence, Joshua stayed behind to seek this God for himself.

Through Joshua, we have a picture of the heart God desires for us. God does not mean for us to live vicariously through others, feeding off their faith and their progress or victories. God desires we feed on Him to grow in personal relationship with Him and to become His instrument for a life of victory.

Because of Joshua’s heart toward God, God gave him his heart’s desire. Therefore, we have the book of Joshua that tells the glory God worked through him as he continued to seek personal relationship with God. Receiving His instruction and living in Holy Habitation with Him, Joshua found his desire fully met. Today, God wants us to have this same faith, not only hearing His call to those like Joshua, but receiving our own through personal relationship with God.