Exodus 32:17 – And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.”
Joshua is not the main focus of this section of scripture, Aaron and Moses are. This brief but important note about Joshua pointing out the noise in the camp is a reminder of how even in the midst of such sin and chaos there is likely to be a single person that carries on the work of the Lord and is faithful. Joshua was this person, a faithful servant, always there seemingly right at Moses’s side day and night.
The first time we meet Joshua he was sent by Moses to defeat the Amalekites in chapter 17 of Exodus. He does so valiantly while Aaron and Hur held up Moses’s hands that day.
Then, we don’t hear about him again until chapter 24 where it says that Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu and 70 of the elders went up to/towards the mountain of God (Sanai). Interestingly, Joshua was not the focus of this chapter either, as Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu were more prominent. Even the elders of Israel seemed to be more prominent in this chapter as it says they “saw the God of Israel” there in what must have been a fantastic and beautiful sight. God was there and under His feet were a paved word of sapphire stones that looked like the very heavens in their sight. And how did the elders respond to seeing God? It says they ate and drank. I wonder also if they “rose up to play” like they did some time later. The context here points to possibly some sexual sin in this scene as is alluded to later in the new testament. However, we are again only given a short glimpse of Joshua here and then our focus is drawn towards the elders, sin, Moses, and the usual sort of things that draw our attention away from the meek and humble servant that Joshua is here.
While everyone else saw God there near/on the mountain, God spoke to Moses and instructed him to go up on the mountain where he would be given tablets of stone. Moses, obeys and arose with Joshua his servant to go up to the mountain of God. That’s where we find Joshua listed as Moses’s servant. He faithfully went where Moses went. Even when God called Moses alone, Joshua is right there with him. It reminds me of Elisha who wouldn’t leave Elijah’s side before he was taken up into heaven. It’s not that God commanded only Moses to come up, He clearly “allowed” Joshua to come up as well. I think we can pretty confidently say that Joshua was with Moses throughout all the instructions that God gave him on the mountain, even though he wasn’t mentioned. There are so many details that follow in the chapters afterwards that I myself would find it hard to remember everything unless I too had my servant with me documenting it all, writing down what was being spoken to me by God, and helping me to remember the specific details that may quite easily be forgotten after many long and arduous sessions with the Lord, lasting at least 40 days and nights, followed by probably many weeks, if not years of constructing the various tabernacle elements. Joshua was there the whole time.
Seven more perfect chapters come and go before we hear about Joshua again. But he was there the whole time, right alongside Moses. In 32:17 of Exodus we ready that Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, “there is a noise of war in the camp.” Clearly Joshua was not in the camp, otherwise he would have told Moses that the people were eating and drinking and rising up to play (again). He was with Moses, so would not have been aware exactly what the rest of the people were doing. In fact, it’s also important to note that while all the others were sinning, Joshua was there not sinning and being obedient to the Lord as he continued to serve Moses. I wonder how Joshua was selected as Moses’s servant? Perhaps we can find out more if we look, but it just happens after the war was won with Amalek. Suddenly he was listed as Moses’s servant. Thrown into the position…???…Not really…it was something that he naturally did as he obeyed God. Now Aaron on the other hand was thrown into leadership. God selected him yes, but he was thrown into it. We no nothing of any previous qualifications other than he could speak well. How many of our leaders today are thrown into their leadership positions simply because they can speak well, or are good looking. But Joshua, he was naturally a servant and did what was asked of him without hesitation.
Moses gets angry here in this chapter and the rest of the chapter is dealing with Aaron, the people, and Moses. No more mention of the measly servant who pointed out the sin in the first place. Joshua simply pointed out to Moses what he was hearing and he let Moses and God deal with it. What better example of a servant is this? It wasn’t his place to condemn or blame, or even tattle tale on specific people like he could have easily done to Aaron. He simply told Moses what was going on, and the rest was left up to him. I am sure if Moses wanted Joshua to deal with it, he would have told him and he would have gladly done it. But Moses does what is best as the leader and the chapter continues. Again, Joshua was not heard of again, but he was there the whole time.
Next chapter, 33, and what do we see but Joshua again. He is only said that “[he] did not depart from the tabernacle.” Even Moses needed a break, but Joshua got no break in his service to the Lord or his master Moses. He was young, it says, and he somehow had the patience and aptitude to know what was the right thing to do. Of course he didn’t leave the tabernacle. There needed to be someone there the whole time. After all, even Aaron had “other things to do”. Aaron was a leader, even if he had screwed up and sinned royally in the past. I wonder how Joshua felt about Aaron, or even his sons that had also screwed up in their attempt to be leaders. Joshua wasn’t really given a position of leadership, even though he had all the perfect markings of a great leader. His time would come. He was hardly mentioned, but he was there the whole time.
Of course we know that Joshua went on to defeat Jericho and did ultimately rise up as the leader of Israel. But it is worthwhile to note that he didn’t start out as such a prominent character at the beginning. Hopefully we can take note of that as I have tonight, that God is working so much out behind the scenes. He desires obedience above sacrifice and Joshua was a good example of that in this section of scripture. Even when others are prominently displayed around us, even when leaders are failing, and people are sinning, we must strive to be the servant that God wants all of us to be.