Outside The Camp

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting’.”
— Exodus 33:7 NIVUK

Moses had millions of Israelites depending on him. Every day brought new complaints, new needs, and new crises. But Moses knew something vital: if he was going to lead well, he needed to leave the noise behind and go “outside the camp” to meet with God.

Today, our “camp” looks different — but it’s just as noisy. Instead of shouting Israelites, we have buzzing phones, endless emails, social media pings, work deadlines, and family demands. Life shouts at us from every direction, and before we know it, our souls are depleted.

That’s why Moses’ example matters. He pitched his tent deliberately — not in the middle of the chaos, but away from it. He created distance from the distractions so he could draw near to God.

Jesus did the same. The Gospels tell us, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). He understood that public ministry flows from private intimacy. He said, “When you pray, go into your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father” (Matthew 6:6). That “inner room” might be a literal space — a quiet corner, a bench in the park, a long walk, or even your car before work — or it might simply mean an inner stillness, shutting the door on the noise of the world to commune with God.

Not every season allows long hours of solitude. Susanna Wesley, mother of John and Charles Wesley, famously had so many children that her “secret place” was under her apron — when she covered her head, her children knew, “Mum’s praying; leave her alone.” Maybe you’re in a season like that. Grace to you. God meets you in the snatched moments — a quiet breath before the next meeting, a whispered prayer in the school run, a few peaceful minutes in the bath. (I used to keep a “bath Bible” — the pages wrinkled from hours of soaking in both water and the Word!)

The noisier your life gets, the more intentional your solitude must become. Plan it. Protect it. Because you can’t live in revival if you’re always running on survival.

So, find your “tent of meeting.” Step outside the camp. Silence the notifications, close the laptop, and inhale His presence again. There, in the stillness, you’ll find what Moses found — strength, clarity, and the sweet whisper of a God who still speaks to those who take time to listen.

I will make room as God calls me to my “tent of meeting” (Exodus 33:7-11). I choose to step aside from the noise of life and enter His presence. I release distractions, silence notifications, and close the doors to the world around me.

I receive the strength, clarity, and guidance that come from waiting on the Lord (Isaiah 30:15). I honor the gift of stillness, knowing that in the quiet, God speaks to those who pause, who listen, and who seek Him (1 Kings 19:12).

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