Joshua Generation

For the last 18 months or so, the Lord has always taken me back to the life of Joshua. There is an emerging generation of individuals. I do not think it is necessarily tied to age, but that generation is tied to heart desire. This generation of Joshua's is interesting. The life of Joshua is very interesting. Joshua was not of the tribe of Levi. He was of the tribe of Ephraim. And as such he was not permitted to operate in the priesthood as a Levite. When Moses was instructed to go to Mt. Sinai, it was Joshua who went up with him. Joshua was not permitted to go all the way to the top but he did go as far as he could and stayed until Moses descended from the mountain. It was Joshua who said to Moses, the sounds I hear sound like war noises, only to find that when they had arrived at the bottom of the mountain that the Israelites had begun worshipping false God's. Just like they had seen in Egypt for 400 years.

When Moses was instructed to go the Tabernacle to meet with God face to face, it was Joshua who tagged along and stayed at the entrance of the tent, although he was not allowed to enter in. What was the purpose for the Israelites to leave Egypt? Does anyone remember? Moses continually told Pharaoh to let my people go that they might Worship God in the wilderness. The purpose for them to leave Egypt and to go into the wilderness was for them to learn how to worship God properly. They were to go into the wilderness for 1 year. Every step of the way, they resisted God's attempts to teach them how He was to be worshipped. They fought Him, they complained against Him, not understanding that everything He was doing for them was for their good. They didn't believe Him. They were only supposed to be there 1 year. But instead they kept refusing God, and kept resisting Him and His ways, until such time that God told Moses (with Joshua and Aaron present) that this unbelieving generation of Israelites was to die off in the wilderness. WARNING: If you are in a wilderness time, don't resist God and be unbelieving to ultimately end up dying in your wilderness. It's interesting to note, I have thought about this, how did Joshua and Caleb last those 40 years. They knew they were only to be there a short time. But the unbelieving generation had ruined it for the whole camp. I have wondered, why didn't Joshua and Caleb give up? Why didn't they grow weary in those 40 years? Caleb told Joshua later that even though it had been 40 years, he felt as young as he ever did and was just as ready to take the inhabitants of the promised land as ever. Why didn't they give up? The answer is found in a short little passage in Numbers chapters 14 . Joshua and Caleb were standing there with Moses and Aaron when God told them that the unbelieving generation was to be destroyed in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:33 "And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. 35 I the LORD have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.’”"

Joshua and Caleb knew how long it was going to take before they entered the promised land. They hung onto the promise that God gave them. God said that Joshua and Caleb would be the only two from the original group that would go in. Not even Moses would enter for he did not Revere God in the sight of the Israelites. They were willing to wait those 40 years to enter in. How long are you willing to wait?

During that first intentional year in the wilderness, Moses was instructed of God on how to build the Tabernacle, how the priesthood was to be established and operated, what all of the clothing meant and the order of worship. God instructed them about each piece of furniture for each element, down to the poles used, and the materials used, and the direction of the entry way into the Tabernacle. Each element was important in understanding how God requires us to worship Him. We cannot come to Him our way. We cannot offer Him worship that we think is appropriate or valued. It has to be His way. If we offer Him anything short of worship defined in His methods and offer it to Him in any way other than the pattern He prescribed, then we offer Him profane worship. And in the days of the Tabernacle of Moses and Solomon's Temple; even in the day of Pentecost and the apostles walking the earth, the Glory of God was present, and when profane worship was offered while the Glory was present, death of the individual occurred... Every time.

Joshua had an understanding of these methods of worship. He was there every step of the way tagging along behind Moses. I imagine that wherever Moses went, you found Joshua tagging along behind him. Not only did Joshua have an understanding of this worship, for he was there when the Tabernacle, Priesthood, offerings, sacrifices, etc were established, but he also had an understanding of war. He told Moses that the noises they heard coming down from Mt. Sinai sounded like war sounds. When Moses was interceding and Aaron and Hur were holding his arms, it was Joshua who was fighting. As long as Moses arms remained up (Lifting up Holy Hands in Praise and Worship) Joshua prevailed. When he dropped, then Joshua began to lose. Joshua was a warfare leader.

This Joshua generation is going to know how to mix true worship patterned after God's pattern with warfare to not just defend but rather to advance the Kingdom of God offensively. Hallelujah! Praise God. Rise up Joshua's, rise up Moses', Aaron's, and Hur's. And Let your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, Lord.

Enjoy!

Kelli