God’s Friend
Exodus 33
As Cicero once said, “Life is nothing without friendship.” It’s something every person needs in their life. King Solomon often talked about friendship in his Old Testament books. In Proverbs 17:17 he wrote, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” This is the kind of friend each of us needs.
I’ve been blessed with good friends over the years. I have one in particular who I’ve known since high school. Even though he lives in another state, we still get together on a regular basis. God has blessed him in his business endeavors, and he uses those blessings to bless others. I have been on the receiving end of those blessings numerous times. He has been a friend who has refreshed by soul.
What greater description could there be of our lives than to be called a friend of God? Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, had that honor. In James 2:23 it says, “and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.”
Abraham believed and obeyed God and his reward was friendship with Him.
The same could be said of Moses. In today’s passage it says in v. 11, “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” It’s one thing to have a nice conversation over lunch with a good friend. It’s quite another thing to encounter the God of the universe face to face in the tent of meeting! Lunch with a friend will leave you encouraged, a face to face with God will leave you transformed.
I want us to notice three things from the chapter. First, Moses had the confidence to lead the people to the promised land because of being in God’s presence. When we daily pursue friendship with God, through His Word and in prayer and worship, it produces the spiritual confidence needed to live holy and loving lives in a world that can be unholy and unloving. Why? Because we are reminded that He goes before us and fights our battles. Friendship with the Abba Father means we are protected and provided for.
It tells us in v. 18, “Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.'” A second thing we learn from this chapter is that time in God’s presence resulted in Moses yearning for more of God’s glory. Because of the sin nature, it’s easy for us to want glory. To make a name for ourselves. But when you have daily encountered the presence of God it causes you to become zealous for His glory. And that’s why we have breath, to bring glory to God.
God told Moses in v. 20, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” The third thing from this passage is that, even though Moses was in the presence of God, he was not allowed to see God’s face, His unveiled glory. Why? Because he would die if he did! In the next chapter, we will see the effect seeing even the veiled glory had on Moses. For today, I just want to remind us that there will be a day when we will see God in all of His glory. And it will be for all of eternity. Only those who have become friends with the Father will have this privilege. Are you a friend of God?
Exodus 33
As Cicero once said, “Life is nothing without friendship.” It’s something every person needs in their life. King Solomon often talked about friendship in his Old Testament books. In Proverbs 17:17 he wrote, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” This is the kind of friend each of us needs.
I’ve been blessed with good friends over the years. I have one in particular who I’ve known since high school. Even though he lives in another state, we still get together on a regular basis. God has blessed him in his business endeavors, and he uses those blessings to bless others. I have been on the receiving end of those blessings numerous times. He has been a friend who has refreshed by soul.
What greater description could there be of our lives than to be called a friend of God? Abraham, the father of the Jewish people, had that honor. In James 2:23 it says, “and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’—and he was called a friend of God.”
Abraham believed and obeyed God and his reward was friendship with Him.
The same could be said of Moses. In today’s passage it says in v. 11, “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” It’s one thing to have a nice conversation over lunch with a good friend. It’s quite another thing to encounter the God of the universe face to face in the tent of meeting! Lunch with a friend will leave you encouraged, a face to face with God will leave you transformed.
I want us to notice three things from the chapter. First, Moses had the confidence to lead the people to the promised land because of being in God’s presence. When we daily pursue friendship with God, through His Word and in prayer and worship, it produces the spiritual confidence needed to live holy and loving lives in a world that can be unholy and unloving. Why? Because we are reminded that He goes before us and fights our battles. Friendship with the Abba Father means we are protected and provided for.
It tells us in v. 18, “Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.'” A second thing we learn from this chapter is that time in God’s presence resulted in Moses yearning for more of God’s glory. Because of the sin nature, it’s easy for us to want glory. To make a name for ourselves. But when you have daily encountered the presence of God it causes you to become zealous for His glory. And that’s why we have breath, to bring glory to God.
God told Moses in v. 20, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” The third thing from this passage is that, even though Moses was in the presence of God, he was not allowed to see God’s face, His unveiled glory. Why? Because he would die if he did! In the next chapter, we will see the effect seeing even the veiled glory had on Moses. For today, I just want to remind us that there will be a day when we will see God in all of His glory. And it will be for all of eternity. Only those who have become friends with the Father will have this privilege. Are you a friend of God?
Posted in Journey of Hope