Exodus 33:7-11
Looking at stewardship from a divine perspective, we
can see it as the reasonable service which we render unto the Lord, unto whom we
will all give accounts (Rom. 14:12; Matt. 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10).
1
Peter 4:10 says:
‘As
each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of
the manifold grace of God’ (NKJV).
‘As
each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of
God’s varied grace’ (ESV).
‘As
each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God’ (NASB).
Moses went into the tabernacle to have a heart to
heart discussion with God (he might have possibly taken Joshua with him). When
he got into the tabernacle, the presence of the Lord was made manifest, the
cloudy pillar descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle and the Lord
spoke with Moses…
After the Lord had spoken with Moses (face to face),
he departed into the camp, but the Lord deliberately retained Joshua in His
presence.
…but
his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the
tabernacle (Exodus 33:11).
Joshua wasn’t in a hurry to leave God’s presence. He
was sensitive enough to know that, although the Lord had released his master,
He hadn’t released him yet. How long are we willing to tarry in God’s presence?
Can the Lord delay us in His presence and alter the programs and the agenda of our lives for a while, or for as long as He wills?
Can you spare Him few moments out of your highly cherished ‘time’ to carry out His work upon your life?
Remember, as the clay is, in the hands of the potter, so are we in His hands (Jeremiah 18:6).
Don’t
depart from God’s presence, He’s not through with you yet!
Furthermore, in Numbers 11:24-29, Joshua, due to his
naivety wanted to stop the men who were prophesying in the camp, but Moses
quickly corrected him.
Joshua was trying to show his loyalty to Moses, but
unknown to him, this loyalty was about to disrupt a divine process...
God doesn't necessarily see things the way men see
them.
Thank God for sensitivity on the part of Moses, who
immediate saw things from a divine perspective and corrected the young man,
saying:
'...Are you jealous for my sake? I wish all God's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His spirit upon them all...'
Many people still fall into the same error today,
they owe their loyalty to Moses at the expense of Christ, the One who was said
to be of greater glory and honour than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6). Even to this day,
when Moses is being read, a veil covers their hearts, such that they cannot see
Jesus (2 Cor. 3:15).
This also became another learning point for Joshua, as he took important note of everything he learnt under the leadership of Moses.
The Lord was exposing him to many things which he never for once took for granted.
Learning is indeed a continuous process in life. It never stops as long as we are alive.
This also became another learning point for Joshua, as he took important note of everything he learnt under the leadership of Moses.
The Lord was exposing him to many things which he never for once took for granted.
Learning is indeed a continuous process in life. It never stops as long as we are alive.
Hallmarks
of Stewardship
Divine sensitivity
Be sensitive to God’s call upon your life. Don’t use other people’s lives as a yardstick to measure your own life. Let God reveal to you, His direction for your life… Let Him determine your time of showing forth! Let Him order your steps (Psalm 37:23). Don’t be in a hurry to leave His presence! Wait… just a little longer!
Flexibility
Spiritual flexibility is highly required if we must walk with God. Lack of flexibility got Moses into trouble (Num. 20:6-12). I believe this was one of the learning points for Joshua…
PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
Resident Pastor
Kindly like our facebook page and follow our post at www.facebook.com/gacikeja and tweets at www.twitter.com/gacikeja.
