Verse for the Day, 16 October 2015.

Exodus 33:7-11  Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off 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.  (8)  Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.  (9)  When 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.  (10)  And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.  (11)  Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

This chapter is quite amazing, as it records for us the nature of God’s relationship with Moses. We are told that Moses would go into the tent of meeting, and whilst in this tent we read that “God would speak face to face with Moses, as a man speaks to his friend.” What a joy and privilege this must have been for Moses, and how we long to share in a relationship with God like this!

The wonderful news is that we do share in such a relationship, in fact as believers in Jesus Christ we have an even better, more intimate relationship with God. We are not just friends of God, Jesus calls us his friends in John 15, we are also children of God. We can call God our Father. Not only are we friends and children of God, we are also filled with the presence of God. Moses went in and out of the presence of God. If he wanted to speak with God, to be in the presence of God, he had to go to the tent of meeting. For us as Christians there is no need for us to find a tent of meeting, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are always in the presence of God, God’s presence is always with us. This means that we have constant access to God in prayer, at any time and in any place. Furthermore we don’t need to come filled with fear and having to offer a sacrifice first, we can come with joy and confidence, in the name of Jesus Christ. We are warmly, lovingly welcomed and received. We have the promise that God’s ear will be turned towards us, He will hear our prayer, and He will answer by doing that which is for our highest good and for His greatest glory.

Let us not envy Moses’ relationship with God, for if Moses were present amongst us, he would envy our relationship. We have a gracious God, who has blessed us with an incredible salvation, one that brings us forever into the presence and favour of God, as friends and as children.

Gracious Father we exalt Your name today, for You have lavished Your grace and mercy upon us abundantly. We cannot fathom how it is that we should go from being rebels and enemies, to friends and children. Yet such is the work, the salvation of Christ. Thank You for the assurance that we have in knowing You are with us every day and that we can turn to You at any time, knowing that You will joyfully receive us. Help us to cultivate our relationship with You, instead of trying to look for something better or deeper, for there is nothing better or deeper that being in a right relationship You. Amen.