The Waiting Warrior by Robin Densmore Fuson

 

Most people think of Aaron as the sidekick for Moses. The spokesperson. The first priest in Israel. At the burning bush, when Moses used the excuse of not talking well, God said Aaron would be his voice.

He did some of the speaking when they confronted Pharoah. When Moses’s courage grew and the hand of God showed up in miracles, Moses stepped up. Aaron stepped back a little but still stood beside Moses.

There is another person in Moses’ life that helped him. He didn’t wear priestly robes or hold a position of authority. He was a warrior. Joshua, son of Nun.

The first mention of him in scripture is in Exodus 17:9. I will quote from the New Living Translation. The Amalekites waged war against the tribes of Israel. Moses said, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow I will stand at the top of the hill holding the staff of God in my hand.”

So, Joshua did what Moses said. While Moses held the staff up, Joshua and his warriors were winning. When Moses’ arms grew tired and he lowered the staff, the Amalekites gained the advantage. So, Aaron and Hur found a stone for Moses to sit on and they came along side Moses and held his arms up.

Joshua and his men won the victory that day.

Afterward, the Lord told Moses, “Write these words and read them aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

Later in scripture, we see God kept His promise.

The next time we see Joshua, he waits quietly for days. The Lord called Moses to climb Mt. Sinai and he took Aaron and his sons as well as the elders with him. On the way, Moses grabbed Joshua to climb further up the mountain, leaving the rest behind.

Close to the top, he asked Joshua to wait, then Moses preceded to the cloud of God’s presence covering the summit.

Joshua couldn’t see Moses through the thick cloud. Lightning and thunder came from the presence. For forty days he waited for Moses. During that time, the Lord gave Moses the law and God wrote the ten commandments on stone (Exodus 24).

What do you think Joshua did all those days?

I believe he prayed. He probably tried to hear God’s voice. Maybe God let him hear what he wanted Joshua to hear. Joshua patiently waited for Moses. Forty days. Did it rain? Was it cold on the high mountain? Did he have a stream to drink from?

Another time Joshua is mentioned is at the Tent of the Meeting where Moses communed with the Lord. When Moses went into the Tent of the Meeting, God’s Shekinah glory came and hovered at the entrance (Exodus 33:11).

Joshua waited on the back side of the Tent and lingered after Moses left. Joshua had a hunger for the Lord. He wanted more from His creator. Do you linger with the Lord?

On another occasion, Joshua and eleven men went to scout out the land of promise. Moses sent them to gather intel and bring back samples of the food that grew in the land flowing with milk and honey.

They came back with a huge cluster of grapes draped over a stick carried between two men. They also brough back pomegranates and figs.

Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who gave a favorable report of the region. Joshua knew that the Lord would go before them and help them conquer the Promised Land. Ten men were afraid and said there were giants in the land (Numbers 14).

That bad report caused the people to shake in their boots. The Lord struck down the decenters and made the people wait forty years until that generation died in the wilderness.

How do you think Joshua felt? All this time he had served the Lord and helped Moses. He stood ready to trust the Lord to take them into the promised Land. Joshua and Caleb argued against ten dissenters. Unfortunately, Joshua and Caleb spent the next forty years paying for the sin of others. It wasn’t fair. The warrior, Joshua, had to wait forty long years, a whole generation, before he could strap on his weapons and take the land promised to him.   

Fast forward to the end of Moses’ life. Moses delegated Joshua to carry on in his stead and lead the multitude of God’s people. He told him to be brave and strong. To trust the Lord to give him strength. He laid his hands on him and the bible says, Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom. He had the spirit of wisdom because he waited. Joshua became the leader to take the people into the promised land (Deuteronomy 31).

This sidekick never faltered. His steadfast desire to do right, listen to the Lord, and follow the Lord with his whole heart took him to great heights of achievement.

The Lord spoke to Joshua and he listened. The Lord promised Joshua he would go before him. The Lord would help Joshua do the impossible task ahead. He cautioned Joshua to obey the Lord’s commands. The Lord blessed Joshua and the people revered him like they did Moses.

Joshua had an encounter of significance. Before Joshua took down Jericho, a stranger came to him. Joshua asked this stranger if he was friend or foe. The man replied, “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”

Joshua knew at once and bowed down. The Lord told him to take off his sandals for he stood on holy ground. God himself, Jesus, came face to face with his servant Joshua. Preincarnate Jesus Christ came to chat with Joshua, the leader of His people (Joshua 5:13-15). 

Wow! It’s not recorded what they spoke about. Although, right after, Joshua led the people to walk around a great walled city of Jericho, whose walls fell flat.

Joshua—a great warrior with depth of faith, who waited for the Lord.