Exodus 33:6-11: a reflection

6The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward. 7Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought the LORD went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. 8When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent. 9When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and the LORD spoke with Moses. 10All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door. 11The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.

This passage describes a striking intimacy. Moses would pitch a tent outside the camp, the tent of meeting, and there the LORD would come down in the pillar of cloud and speak with Moses. And the text says something remarkable: The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Not from a distance, not through fear only, but face to face, as friends speak, God communed with Moses. And there is a small detail worth noticing: the young man Joshua would not leave the tent, lingering in the presence even after Moses returned to the camp.

Notice the intimacy God offered Moses: the communion of friends. The God of Sinai, whose holiness made the people tremble, spoke with Moses face to face, as a friend. This is astonishing, that the holy God would draw near to a human being in the intimacy of friendship, speaking with him as friends speak. And notice Joshua, the young man who could not tear himself away from the tent, hungry to linger in God's presence longer than duty required.

Both speak to us. The God who spoke with Moses as a friend still desires that kind of communion with his people; through Christ, we are invited not merely to serve God from a distance but to know him intimately, as friend. And Joshua's lingering models the hunger we should have to remain in God's presence, not rushing away when our duty is done, but staying, drawn by desire for more of him. Do not settle for a distant, dutiful relationship with God when he offers friendship. Draw near to him as Moses did, and linger in his presence as Joshua did, hungry for the intimacy the holy God graciously offers.

Lord, you spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend, offering not distant service but the intimacy of friendship; and young Joshua would not leave the tent, hungry to linger in your presence. Draw me into that same communion. Thank you that through Christ I am invited not merely to serve you from afar but to know you as friend. Keep me from settling for a distant, dutiful relationship with you when you offer such intimacy. Give me Joshua's hunger to linger in your presence, not rushing away when duty is done, but staying, drawn by desire for more of you. Draw near to me, and teach me to draw near to you as a friend.