Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Continuing from yesterday, let’s see what more we can learn from ear-jacking an exchange between the LORD and Moses.

Today’s scripture, Exodus 33:10-14 (NLT) shares…
[10] When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. [11] Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. Lord [12] One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ [13] If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” [14] The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

Consider…
There’s an old movie classic called the Wizard of Oz. In it there’s a wizard who used technology to create an intimidating voice and image to elicit fear from all who would engage him. Although his tactics worked on a frightened girl, cowardly lion, brainless scarecrow and heartless tin man, they didn’t scare the little dog at all. In fact the little terrier put an end to the wizard’s terror by exposing the little man behind the curtain.

Sometimes humans try to portray God as this freighting being who sits on His throne in judgement of every mistake we make. Some people try to intimidate people into heaven through fear of a booming voice who pronounces judgement and righteous indignation of those who don’t obey every command written in the law book, a k.a. the Bible.

Like Toto in the Wizard of Oz, today’s second verse reveals a more accurate image of the God we serve and the intimate relationship that He wants with us. The verse says…
Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Now does that sound like a description of a freighting intimidating being who just sits on His throne pronouncing judgement on everyone for everything?

In fact this reminds me of an exchange Jesus had with His friends at the last supper. Luke 22:21-27 (NLT)
shares…
[21] “But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. [22] For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” [23] The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing. [24] Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. [25] Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ [26] But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. [27] Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

Notice Jesus said Judas was sitting with them as a friend. This is a great illustration of Proverbs 18:24 (NLT), which advises…
[24] There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

As my mother would say, choose your friends wisely.

As I consider choosing my friends wisely, I remember Jesus chose Judas. This tells me that we should choose friends that will help us fulfill God’s purpose for us, which is a wise choice. Remember Judas unknowingly fulfilled the Psalms 41:9 (AMP)
prophecy…
[9] Even my own close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me [betraying me]. [John 13:18]

I think we miss the fact that Jesus never stopped referring to Judas as His friend despite the deadly betrayal. In fact the betrayal recorded by Matthew 26:48-50 (NLT) shares…
[48] The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” [49] So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. [50] Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

The same God who spoke face to face with Moses as friend, called Judas “my friend” and let him fulfill his purpose of betrayal with a kiss.

I love how God shows us the spectrum of friendship with Him. He doesn’t choose us as friends because of what we can do for Him, but instead because of what He can accomplish through us.

Abraham is another sterling example of friendship with God. James 2:21-24 (NLT) testifies…
[21] Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. [23] And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. [24] So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

Notice James said that Abraham BELEIVED God and that he was considered righteous because of his faith. Then, the add-on I love, “He was even called the friend of God.”

There’s a hidden gem in the fact that our faith in God will move us to obey Him and be considered His friends. Jesus explains it this way in John 15:14-17 (NLT)…
[14] You are my friends if you do what I command. [15] I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. [16] You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [17] This is my command: Love each other.

In all of these examples…

• Moses
• Abraham
• the disciples, including Judas

…God speaks to His friends.

God speaking to His friends means He’s honest, open and transparent (H.O.T.) with us.

I believe a reason God wants us to also view Him as a friend is because if we’re honest, friends listen to and share more with friends than they do with family in many instances. I know that’s true for me.

Wow, the Holy Spirit just blew my mind again 🤯. Proverbs 17:17 (ERV) says…
[17] A friend loves you all the time, but a brother was born to help in times of trouble.

…Jesus has always loved us as friends, even when we were still enemies, but He was born as a brother to save us from the penalty, power and presence of sin. 🤯

Romans 5:10-11 (NLT) explains…
[10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Wow!!! Jesus Christ makes us friends of God!!! 🤯

Here’s the encouragement for today, God wants to speak to us as friends to help us fulfill His purpose for our lives.

Today’s song is…
Friend Of God

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)