“And Moses said unto the Lord, ‘See, Thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me.'” Exodus 33:12
Scripture tells us that “The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” (Ex. 33:11) It also tells us of Moses’ servant, Joshua, giving us a glimpse into the character of the man: “…his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.” (v.11) Somewhat like Elisha’s glimpse of the glory of God in the life and ministry of Elijah, so Joshua sees the blessing of God upon Moses, even seeing God’s glory from time to time. Thus, we see revealed perhaps the greatest, and most important characteristic of Christ’s leader of men. It is that pursuit of God, that seeking Him foremost, above all else. We know that Joshua would eventually succeed Moses, leading the people of Israel into the promised land. His preparation was simple, but extremely focused. From the seeking heart, as a young man, there would be formed and prepared, a servant of God, like Moses, who would be faithful and obedient to God, one to whom the charge of taking the people into Canaan would be conferred. Though Moses knew Joshua, and certainly realized his desire for God, and this, by the fact that he “…departed not out of the tabernacle,” when Moses returned to the camp, he did not lean unto his own understanding in choosing himself, someone who would be sent with him. Moses had learned not to trust his own “natural, ” “logical,” judgment. He learned to depend upon God wholly, to defer to Him alone to revealt to him, “…whom Thou wilt send with me.” It is for this reason that, being very clear and honest before God, he would pray, “Show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee.” (33:13) There are so many things associated with this prayer, one of which was certainly the need to know whom the Lord had chosen to go with Moses, in the great pursuit of God’s calling and commission.
In the book of Isaiah, he writes concerning the Lord’s promise of a new thing: “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth.” The Lord then asks, “Shall ye not know it?” The question then comes before us, “Are we willing to ask the Lord for knowledge of HIS new thing,” or will we lean unto our own understanding, considering only that which is within the realm of human possibility? The Lord concludes this thought by giving two promises. The first is, “I will even make a way in the wilderness.” In other words, God will give knowledge of the way He has chosen for His people to walk in, and where they should go. The second promise is: “(I will even make…) rivers in the desert.” (Is. 43:19) Here is His promise of provision, not only for basic physical needs, but primarily for all spiritual need. This is basically the same thing that He said to Moses: “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” (Ex.33:14) God’s way is His manifest presence. He is also the provision for all that the believer needs. So then, where shall go to KNOW the new beginning? It is to Christ alone, not just because He is the way and the means, but also, because His “new beginning” is often not at all what we would have thought. If we would make a study of Christ’s meetings with all the people He ministered to, and what He said to them, and what he accomplished in them, we would discover that He never dealt with two people in the same way. Though His ways remain the same today, as they always have been, ever brining men and women to faith, He is the Original Author, not only of faith, but of the new thing. We would be wise to follow Moses’ example, relying wholly upon the Spirit of God to lead us to know this new thing, His way, and His provision.
Dear Father, Thou Author of every New Beginning, open our eyes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.