1. It is not without reason that history makes Moses take Joshua up afterwards with him into the sacred mountain, into the awful presence of God's power. While he went himself into the central darkness, he left Joshua upon the outskirts, alone in those dreadful solitudes. That was enough to take out of a man the sense of his own greatness. Joshua learned his lesson for life. There is not one touch, from beginning to end of his course, of any self-exaltation to the exclusion of God. No man could more undividedly carry out the idea that all Israel's success and victories were due to God alone.
Joshua waited patiently for the return of his master in a hollow of the mountain's brow. He was allowed to go with him as far or as high as, nay even higher than, any other earthly companion. There are grades in the soul's ascent and privilege. It was enough for Joshua that day to have earned a place so near the cloud, the nearest neighbour of the man who was called within to be God's listener.
2. The next step in Joshua's training was to learn how to obey with love and reverence. Therefore, after he had been solemnized upon the mountain, he became the “servant,” the daily attendant of Moses. He lived with him in the tabernacle, doing his work, running to and fro in attendance, learning the duties which should belong to him as leader by being the right hand of the leader; the greatest warrior of the camp in daily obedience to the lawgiver of the camp. He began life well and nobly; for it is said of him, “Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” As Moses passes with shining face, a majestic presence, through the worshipping people, Joshua, a young man, remains behind in the tabernacle, praying for that vision of God which shall fit him to take up the work of his vanishing master.
Like One who after many ages came,
Jehoshua-God-Saviour-was His name.
As to “His Father's house” His way He made,
His type “within the Tabernacle” stayed.
Each by hard toil and lowly ministry
Learned through obedience that which he should be.
