But you have followed what I teach, the way I live, my goal, faith, patience, and love. You know I never give up. [2 Timothy 3:10 (NCV)]
After Israel accepted the Lord’s Covenant, Moses returned to the base of Mt. Sinai with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. It was then that every one of those men gazed upon the God of Israel from afar and ate a covenant meal in His presence. Before Moses departed to climb up the mountain to receive the stone tablets, he entrusted the Israelites to Aaron and the elders who then went back to their camp. Moses, accompanied by his servant/apprentice Joshua, climbed a short way up the mountain and a cloud covered it. The two men made camp and stayed there for the next six days. On the seventh day, God called to Moses from within the cloud and the Israelites’ leader disappeared into the mist.
By this time, Israel had seen the waters of the Red Sea part and Pharaoh’s army drown, watched as bitter water turned sweet, received manna from heaven and water from a rock, and experienced victory over the Amalekites. Israel saw the glory of the Lord like a consuming fire on Mt. Sinai’s summit and, during the Covenant ceremony, they all promised, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.” Seventy-three of the elders saw the God of Israel and ate a meal with Him! Yet, despite the miracles they’d experienced, Israel lost faith and grew impatient during their leader’s forty-day absence. Fearful that Moses was lost and wanting to set their own time line for getting to the Promised Land, they decided to fashion another god to lead them. After doing so, they celebrated with a pagan feast. When God saw their disobedience and corruption, he sent Moses back down the mountain.
While we know that Moses was on top of Mt. Sinai communing with God, there is no mention of Joshua’s whereabouts or activities during those next thirty-three days. We can only assume that, after watching Moses disappear in the mist, Joshua patiently remained there until Moses’ return. If I’d seen someone vanish into the fog, I’m not sure I would have lasted four days alone in the cloud-covered wilderness but Joshua lasted more than four weeks! As the days wore on, did he worry that Moses may have been eaten by lions or consumed by what appeared to be fire? Did he wonder how long he should wait before giving up? Waiting alone in the wilderness, did he fear for his own safety? Think of the patience and faith it took for the young man to remain there day after day waiting for Moses’ return.
We think of Joshua as a scout, military strategist, and leader but do we ever think of him as a man of patience and faith? Yet, the same man who waited day after day alone in the wilderness had to wait an extra thirty-eight years before setting foot in Canaan! His faith and patience, however, were rewarded when he arrived in the Promised Land.
Faith and patience go hand in hand. If we have patience, we won’t lose faith in God’s plan and timing as did the Israelites. And, if we have faith, we can be patient, even when things take longer than expected, as they did for Joshua.
The principle part of faith is patience. [George Macdonald]
Devotions of the Heart 