The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Exodus 33:11a NIV
That’s what I want in my life, a relationship with God so strong that God speaks to me as one speaks to a friend! Christianity, when boiled down to it’s simplest form, is all about relationship and nothing about religion. If you consider those whom we hail as hero’s of the Christian faith, Abraham, Moses and David, you’ll discover it was their relationship with God that made them the spiritual giants they were. You’ll also discover that God spoke with all of them as a friend, confiding in them and encouraging them.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. James 2:23 NIV
It was the faith of Abraham that was credited to him as righteousness, nothing he did to impress God. He simply chose to trust God and take him at His word, even though God had promised him something that in human reasoning was out of the realm of possibility. No sane person believes that their wife will have a baby at the age of ninety with her 100 year old husband! Yet that was God’s promise, and Abraham believed it. Since they were friends, God chose not to hide from Abraham what He was about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah. God spoke with Abraham the way a man speaks to a friend, confiding in him and giving him special insight into His plans.
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Genesis 18:16-17 NIV
David enjoyed a close friendship with God as well. All those hours out in the field at night under the stars with his harp, David expressed his joy over their relationship through some of the most beautiful songs ever written! One of the themes that runs through the Psalms is David’s appreciation of their two way communication. He was confident that God listened to his voice and equally confident that God spoke to Him.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3 NIV
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. Psalm 25:14
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words. Psalm 119:147 NASB
David liked to rise early, before dawn and communicate with God! When was it that God spoke with Moses?
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses. Exodus 33:7, 9 NASB
God spoke to Moses when he was in the tent of meeting. While there’s no secret formula for hearing God’s voice, one thing’s clear: it’s important to find a quiet place, away from the distractions of life, to enter into the Lord’s presence. David found that time early in the morning, before the busyness of the day took over. Moses pitched a tent outside the camp, away from the rest of the community, and he entered the tent for one reason only: to speak with God and to listen, as one listens to a friend.
So where is your tent of meeting? Where do you go to speak with God, and to enjoy undistracted time with Him?
If you’ve never considered your relationship with God a of friendship, consider these words of Jesus shortly before he went to the cross.
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 NASB
Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:1-3 NASB
Jesus came so that we, like our hero’s in the faith, might know God and enjoy His friendship!