Young Man

Temple Baptist Church - 1-25-2009

Exodus 33:1-11

Introduction:

A. In chapter 32, we find the sin of Israel as they turned from the true and living God who delivered them from the “Iron Furnace” of Israel to a golden calf made by their own hands saying, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” How utterly ignorant!

1. These gods were made of the gold of Egypt! They could not hear, see, or speak. They were the works of the evil hearts of the people.

2. God had gloriously delivered Israel and now He has righteously chastened them to the toll of 3,000 who perished.

3. Here in Exodus 33, we find that Moses took the Tabernacle and pitched it without the camp. Instead of their being able to worship within the camp, they must now go out of the camp.

B. Moses went to the Tabernacle to commune with God in vs. 8-9 and God spake to him as “a man speaketh unto his friend.” As a general rule, we concentrate upon the chastisement of the people and the communing of Moses but:

C. I want to key in upon a phrase in verse 11 for a while this morning. We find here that as Moses returned to the camp, young Joshua remained in the Tabernacle with the Lord. Nothing more is said concerning Joshua in the remainder of the chapter but all was said that needed to be said in verse 11.

D. This morning, for a little while, I want to speak to our young people. By “young,” I do not mean to the twenties and younger alone but to all of those of you who are now in the prime of your lives. Young people, young couples who are raising children while working long hours on the jobs. We “Old Folks” are quickly moving off of the scene and who will be “baptized for the dead?”

Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. (“My son, give me thine heart!” Not your body, young people! Not your money, young people! Not your minds, young people! Not your time, young people! “Give me thine heart!” If He has your heart, He has your body! !” If He has your heart, He has your money! !” If He has your heart, He has your mind! !” If He has your heart, He has your time! !” If He has your heart, He has your everything!)

1. We need a young Moses who will esteem the reproach of Christ as greater riches than all that the world can give!

2. We need young Joshua who will remain in the tabernacle while all of Christendom watches from their tent’s door!

3. We need a young Samuel who will be sensitive to the voice of God in the spiritual dimness of our times!

4. We need a young David who will mind the sheep while finding the heart and mind of God.

5. We need a young Timothy who will not be ashamed of his youth in the face of peer pressure.

6. May God give us some young people who have a hearts “pant” after God!

E. You see, youth is both a treasure and a temptation.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

1. A treasure because of its strength and vitality. A treasure because of its innocence and purity. A treasure because its future is long and its past is short.

2. A temptation because its flesh is not yet disciplined through testing. A temptation because Satan is seeking and devouring. A temptation because the broad way is the path of less resistance. A temptation because on the narrow way the travelers are few and the days often lonely.

F. We find here a young man who had a heart for God! It’s expression is found in verse 11 but this verse is the culmination of much that went on before in the life of this young man, Joshua.

1. Serving God takes character.

2. Serving God takes commitment.

3. Serving God takes courage.

4. Serving God takes communion.

5. Serving God takes continuation.

G. I want to look at Joshua’s life (what little is said about it) that led up to Exodus 33:11 because it is these events that caused him to have a heart after God.

Psalms 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

1. Joshua Had A Heart To War - Exodus 17:9-14 (First mention of Joshua!) And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. 10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. 14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. (“Dear Lord, give us some young people who are not afraid to stand and fight for that which is right!)

2. Joshua Had A Heart To Wait Upon God’s Man - Exodus 24:13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. (“Dear Lord, give us some young people who will love, respect, obey, and follow their man of God!)

3. Joshua Had A Heart To Wait Upon The Lord - Numbers 14:6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Numbers 14:30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, [concerning] which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Numbers 14:38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, [which were] of the men that went to search the land, lived [still].

Numbers 26:65 For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. (“Dear Lord, give us some young people who will learn the patience to wait their turn!”)

4. Joshua Had A Heart To Worship - Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. (“Dear Lord, give us some young people who are not ashamed to openly worship Thee!)

5. Joshua Had A Heart To Wholly Follow The Lord - Numbers 32:12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. (“Dear Lord, give us some young people who will wholly follow Thee!)

6. Joshua Had A Willingness To Take Up The Work – Joshua 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (“Dear Lord, give us some young people who will take the place of those who have gone on before and are now leaving the scene!”)