Exodus 33:11a: The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
Throughout the Bible, there are verses that should spark some emotions or gut reactions in you. Perhaps you may experience relief and gratuity as you ready of God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Maybe you feel awe and wonder at His power? Or, could it be fear and dread over a holy God’s judgment on sin? One of the more comforting and extraordinary verses for me is today’s verse – the fact that the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. The thought of God speaking to me as a friend of mine is almost too much to comprehend. How could a perfect and holy God look upon a mess like me and look at me as His friend?
Well, we shouldn’t be in the habit of declaring things impossible when Scripture clearly points out such a relationship with God is indeed possible. As to yours and my inconsistencies in our faithfulness and conduct, we should take comfort that Jesus established the mold of God’s attitudes towards all people. From Luke 7:34, we read, “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” God’s attitudes towards each and every one of His creations is that of a redeemable being. There are no exceptions to John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world”. There are no “buts” or “except…” in this world.
However, to achieve “friendship” status with God, the first thing is you need to believe in Him. James 2:23 demonstrates this, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. And he was called the friend of God.” Belief in God should translate into obedience to God. Abraham proved his belief in God and His word when he was ready to do as God commanded him – to sacrifice his only legitimate son – Isaac. God had made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation. For Abraham to be willing to sacrifice his only son, he must have been so sure of God’s ability to resurrect his son as it was the only way he could see God fulfilling His promise. God saw this proof of belief and stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac.
Jesus made the path to friendship with Him pretty clear. First, in John 14:23, He said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” He went onto say in John 15:14, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” The foundation of a friendship with God is belief and obedience in God. A friendship with God is the most rewarding relationship a human being can have because this is what we were created to have. Our very existence was designed to be in relationship with our Creator.
Sadly, though, the choice to pursue a friendship with God will almost certainly cause problems with many of your current friends and possibly even your family. In serving God, He will ask you to do things that make people uncomfortable – notably calling out their sinfulness either through convicting conversations or your more holy conduct. Seeking a friendship with God will likely be costly, but we must remember the example Jesus set to make friendship with God possible. He said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” True friendship involves sacrifice.
Whatever suffering you may experience that comes from your desire to be a friend of God, the benefits will far outweigh the pain. Romans 8:18 assures the fruit of your friendship with God, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Do you want to hear God speak to you as He did to Moses? He’s ready when you are.