Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
Exodus 33:11a (ESV)
During Israel’s stay at Sinai, Moses pitched a tent outside the camp where he would go to talk with God. Whenever he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud that represented God’s presence would stand at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the Lord would speak with Moses (Ex. 33:1-10).
How did God speak with Moses? This passage tells us that He spoke with Moses face-to-face. Just like a man would speak with a friend. And no doubt it was a two-way conversation.
What did they talk about? There is no way to know the full extent of their conversations. But a significant portion of it dealt with the giving of the Law (Ex. 25:22). And no doubt, Moses would express his frustration with the people to God, and God would give him instruction on how to deal with them.
But their conversation was about more than the business of molding a nation out of a newly freed group of slaves. Following the passage quoted above, Moses asked God to “Show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight” (Ex. 33:13). Moses wanted a better understanding of who God was and what He wanted from Moses. He wanted to find favor in God’s sight.
Encountering God
It is likely that God does not speak to you with an audible voice out of a pillar of cloud or from between the cherubim. But we can have our own “tent of meeting” (Matt. 6:6). And God does invite us into His presence (Heb. 10:19-22). We can meet with God, face-to-face, share with Him what is on our hearts, and seek to know Him better.
And we can trust that the One who loves us more than we can imagine will speak to our hearts and minds, filling us “with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9).
Such a wonderful privilege and opportunity we have. To meet with God, face-to-face.
