Exodus 33:7-11
Exodus 33:7-11 describes three very different relationships, each an opportunity to worship God but each also being very different. I don't think any of them are the wrong relationship but they were definitely a matter of good, better, best. Of late I've been thinking about these three positions, wondering where I am. One thing is for certain, wherever I am right now, my goal is to be in the tent.
Whenever the nation of Israel set up camp during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, Moses would pitch his tent far from everyone else and when anyone wanted to seek the Lord they came out of the camp to this Tabernacle of Meeting. I suspect this was a journey of faith for those who wanted the wisdom only God could provide. But something special happened when Moses entered the tent. When Moses went in God did something highly unusual: "So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11)
Here's the picture painted by this passage. The people are all in the camp, each at his own tent. They stand and watch as Moses enters the tent. As he does so, the pillar of cloud descends in front of the tent and the people begin to worship, I suspect this was a natural response to what must have been an unbelievable sight. Those who worshipped from their tents were in a good position but there was someone who was in a better position.
The Bible says that Joshua would not leave the tabernacle of meeting. It's not clear if he was inside or outside the tent when God and Moses spoke but clearly He was someplace close by. My guess is he was outside. Imagine standing just outside the tabernacle of meeting as Moses entered and the pillar descended. If this was where Joshua stood or knelt, could he feel the turbulence as the pillar changed the atmosphere around it? Was Joshua close enough to overhear the conversation? I know it's rude to eavesdrop but how could you resist listening to the voice of God? (Don't answer that.) If Joshua was outside the tent, he was in a better position than most of the people but he still was not in the best position.
The best position was that held by Moses, inside the tent. There God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to a friend. These devotional times had to have been very special. Can you imagine what that must have been like? What did Moses see? What does God's voice sound like? Did they only talk about major issues or did they talk about the weather or about the kids running races down in the camp? I've said plenty of prayers of various kinds in my lifetime but if I were in that tent like Moses was, I think I'd be too scared to speak. Still, I think Moses had the best seat in the house...I mean camp.
It would be awesome to be in that tent. But guess what? We are all in God's presence just the same and believers have God's Spirit living inside them. God has invited us in. But where are you? By faith do you live and pray as if you are in the presence of God? Do you approach your prayer life as if God is with you and is listening? God wants a close intimate relationship, calling upon us to pray without ceasing. But, by faith, where are you spiritually? Are you inside the tent, outside the tent or are you down the lane?
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