By Staff
God is the Seeking Savior (Luke 19:10). He shows no favoritism (Acts 10:34), but God seems to pay special attention to people who have a tenacity about seeking and following Him.
Joshua was a young man when God used Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of Egyptian slavery. Joshua became an aide to Moses.
In the Old Testament book of Exodus, we are told how Moses would pitch a tent outside the camp of Israel and go there to meet with God (Exodus 33:7-8).
The meetings Moses had with God were obvious because God would come down in a pillar of cloud to speak with Moses (Exodus 33:9). It was obvious that during these meetings Joshua would follow Moses to the tent. After Moses met with God, Moses would go back to the camp, but Joshua did not leave the tent (Exodus 33:11).
We see in Joshua a deep yearning to seek and be in the presence of God. Joshua was already a very capable warrior (Exodus 17:9-10), but he wanted something more. He wanted to know God.
Later, Joshua (i.e. Hoshea) was one of the chosen twelve men sent to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:8). All twelve spies saw the same things, but ten spies lacked the faith and vision, and gave the opinion that, even though the land was good, they would not be able to conquer it (Numbers 13:31). Joshua and Caleb had hearts that followed hard after God and gave a different report in Numbers, chapter 13, verse 30: "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it" (cf. Num. 14:6-9).
The report of the ten spies ruled and the people rebelled against the direction of God. They then wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all the unfaithful had died off. God preserved Joshua and Caleb and, ultimately, Joshua became the leader of the nation of Israel and led the people in conquering the land of Canaan (Joshua 1:1-5). Joshua had a heart that sought God. God blessed and used him greatly.
Elisha was similar when Elijah asked him to come and work with him. Elisha dropped everything and went with Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21). When Elijah was about to be caught up to heaven, Elijah was going to Bethel. He told Elisha to stay behind (2 Kings 2:2). Elisha replied, in verse 2, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you."
Several more times Elijah told Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha refused to leave Elijah. When they reached the Jordan River, Elijah asked Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" Elisha dared to request, "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit" (2 Kings 2:9). Elijah had no power to transfer what God had given him to somebody else, but God saw Elisha's seeking heart and did give him a double portion. Elisha did twice as many miracles as Elijah. Elisha was used greatly by God.
We know of David the shepherd boy who became the king of Israel. David said, in Psalms, chapter 42, verses 1-2, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?" God testified of David in Acts, chapter 13, verse 22: "I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do." David was used greatly by God.
In sheer tenacity for God, Jacob was a man who would not let go. On a night when Jacob was on the way back to Canaan with his family and possessions, he was sleeping alone near the brook of Jabbok (Genesis 32:22-31). An angel came and wrestled with Jacob that night. Near daybreak the angel said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak" (Genesis 32:26). Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26). It is said that Jacob prevailed with God. He was a seeker. God used Jacob to become the nation of Israel.
The word from the Lord, in Jeremiah, chapter 29, verse 13, is the word to us today as well: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
God is looking for the seeking heart.