Face to face

DEVOTION

EXODUS

FACE TO FACE

Ex 33:7-11

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. 11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

NIV

The scholars are at odds about this tent of meeting for the original text uses the word that is, or can be translated, tabernacle. This same word has been used throughout the Old Testament for tent. It was used for the tent of Abraham and Sarah, as well as in many other places. In Addition we cannot be certain the Tabernacle as God had directed and given the plans to Moses had been constructed yet. So for the sake of finding what is happening here, let us consider this is not the Tabernacle, but rather a normal tent that Moses pitched outside the camp. He would not have been able to pitch all the gold covered wood poles and bases, with all the stakes and covering with all the heavy articles inside all alone. So it was a tent he could pitch and here he would go to meet with God. Why outside the camp? God had already told the Israelites due to their being stiff-necked he was no longer going to be present with them. He was withdrawing his presence, however not from Moses. So Moses would go out to this tent to meet with God. The people understood their sin, and so whenever he did go to the tent to speak with God they would stand still and watch and worship. Perhaps they were indeed contrite and had hopes of the LORD relenting and once again being with them. But our lesson is within this tent of meeting. Sure we could take pause to consider we too should not take advantage of his grace, having no contrition of heart over our sin, our daily sin. Yet we also live in an age where God no longer has withdrawn his presence from us. In fact, he even dwells within our own tent of meeting. The tent of his very own creation. When Moses would be in the tent of meeting God would speak to him, not as a God to a servant, but as a friend to a friend. From the verses that follow this narrative we know Moses did not meet with him actually face to face, as no one can see the face of God and live, at least at this time. Someday in the future, when we enter eternity, we may well be standing before him, face to face. But for now that term was to imply that God spoke plainly to Moses as a friend speaks to his friend. Their relationship was very personal for God was extremely pleased with Moses. We will see this truth in the conversation that follows. This relationship is what we have with God now because of the blood of Jesus. Jesus left and ascended back to the right hand of the Father always making intercession for us, but he also left so that he could send the Comforter, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to first of all convict us of our sin and need of repentance. Once we do that, once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit then guides us into all truth. So with all the relevant scriptures that deal with the leading or infilling of the Spirit in a believers life, we have to conclude we are living with the Spirit dwelling within us. Now there has been some discussion in scripture about believers living none spiritual rather than spiritual. Which could imply that we must give consent to the Spirit dwelling within us. This discussion is numerous throughout the New Testament, especially in the Epistles or letters to the saints scattered throughout, too numerous to include in one devotion. Nevertheless we are admonished to be filled with the Spirit.

Eph 5:15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit . 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV

So accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and consenting to the Spirit dwelling with us, as a second event in our lives, brings us to the same place Moses was when he was with God, a friend speaking plainly to a friend. Because we are in Christ and the Spirit dwells within us, the tent of meeting, God is pleased with us, and his presence is with us leading us on our journey with him. The question is, do we listen, and do we follow the words he speaks with us? Yes, he is Holy. Many lessons have been conducted about the Holiness of God. How he is so Holy, we should be in awe of him, almost afraid of his presence. But that is not how he was with Moses, as he spoke with him not as a Holy God, but as a friend, face to face. This is how he is with us as well. Jesus said we are friends.

John 15:12-15

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends . 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends , for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

NIV

Jesus calls us friends, so we speak not to a God as a servant but as friends, plainly and openly within our tent of meeting. This is as personal as it gets. We have nothing to fear from our friend. The Spirit meets with us face to face daily.