Hearing His Voice #162

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Exodus 33:11

Arguably the two most prominent figures in the Hebrew Scriptures—and clearly the two most significant in terms of covenant history—are Abraham and Moses. Not coincidentally, they are both spoken of not simply as God’s servants or chosen leaders, but as His friends. In both of these men, we see not only reverence for God’s majesty, but also the other end of the familiarity spectrum: a boldness to try to challenge or influence God’s plan. In other words, they weren’t afraid to wrestle with God. And God was not reluctant to engage them in conversation.

One of the hardest things to balance in our relationship with God is the tension between familiarity and awe. Some people emphasize God’s majesty and bristle at any thought of intimacy with Him. Others lean the other way, carrying on a casual friendship with God with hardly a thought of falling on their faces before Him. In reality, God is both awe-inspiring otherness and a closer friend than we can imagine. When we pursue both sides of that relationship, we find Him speaking in more familiar terms than we might expect.

God spoke with Moses “face to face, as one speaks to a friend,” even though the idea of seeing God and relating to Him in familiar terms was practically inconceivable in Hebrew thought. Moses’ relationship with God shows us that it’s possible. Not only that, but Scripture assures us that we live under a better covenant now, a relationship in which the veil has been torn and we have access to the throne. What could possibly prevent us from running to God and zealously pursuing a face-to-face friendship? Why would we ever be content with not hearing Him well? He invites us into intimate conversation. We should never settle for anything less.

Majestic God, whisper Your personal thoughts to me. Let me know You more deeply than I’ve ever been taught, more directly than purely religious minds can accept. I want to experience You as profoundly as You have ever allowed anyone to experience You.