LIFE SCRIPTS

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. 12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Exodus 33:7‭-‬23 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/exo.33.7-23.NIV.

The tent of meeting was a place Moses had established to connect with God. Everyday, he would proceed there where he would converse with God at a personal level. God’s glory descended upon that tent as the people watched who in turn worshipped Him. There’s something outstanding about Moses’s love for God. He fellowshipped with Him at a deep personal level. In fact even after leaving the mountain, Moses still continued communing with God and listening from Him. A challenge to us who experience the mountain at times. We meet with God when we go to the mountain of prayer…that retreat, that kesha, that fellowship, that concert…but it shouldn’t stop there. Our communion with God must continue on a regular basis even after we leave that mountain. Spiritual growth is more of a daily discipline…an observation of daily routines such as quiet time, prayer and meditation. But even as Moses went into and out of the tent everyday, the man Joshua, his aide, a most trusted protégé remained there. Joshua, the man who would lead the Israelites into the promised land literally stayed in God’s presence all the time. He tarried in God’s presence day and night drawing from Him because he was a leader in the making. Leadership is a calling from God. He bestows it upon us. But we can’t be effective enough in our leadership if we don’t spend time in God’s presence. I can only imagine the kind of inspiration, encouragement, insight and spirituality Joshua acquired during these times when he waited patiently from God. Moses’s hunger for God was evident. We’re given an insight into part of his conversation with God. A few things stand out: He sought to grow in his knowledge about God, he desired God to lead them desperately, he desired to witness God’s glory in it’s fullness. We grow in our knowledge of God through primarily reading His word. But as we get to know more about Him, we must also allow Him to lead us daily. And this is where the rubber meets the road. God reveals Himself to us but also desires that we yield to Him in all situations. Just as Moses, we should say that, ‘…if you don’t lead me, then I’ll go no further…’. But sometimes I see myself using my knowhow and ingenuity instead of God’s guidance. In all situations, we gain by waiting upon God. But lastly, Moses made a bold move. He sought to see God’s glory. It seemed as if his requests were getting bolder by each step. And true to His word, God allowed him to witness His glory but not His face. Moses was hidden in a rock cleft and only managed to see the Lord passing…His trail…so to speak…for lack of a better term. As we know God through His word, prayer, fellowship and service; as we walk in obedience and are guided by Him, He reveals to us His glory as we seek Him. We cannot see His face. But we shall see a manifestation of His presence around us…in our homes and families, in our workplaces, in our neighborhoods…we’ll see God at work within us and around us.