"All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped" (Ex. 33:10a).
Though the Lord would not dwell among the people of Israel and bless them with intimate communion, He would meet with Moses. Exodus 33:9–11 reveals the special relationship God had with this most humble servant. It was one of intimacy, grace, and friendship. No doubt, this relationship gave the Israelites much encouragement as they watched Moses enter the tabernacle, a place where they could not go. Though God had removed Himself from them, He had not removed Himself from Moses, and this filled them with hope and inspired them to worship. No longer did they worship idols made of their own hands, but they worshiped the Lord as He condescended to speak to Moses. All had not been lost. Israel still had a mediator, one who was highly favored by God. So with this hope in their hearts, they stood at their tents and worshiped the Lord of glory.
The text says that “the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” God initiated the meeting out of His abundant grace, speaking to Moses face to face. God revealed Himself to Moses, not only with clarity, but also with greater expressions of kindness, grace, and love. He spoke, not as a king to his subject, but as a man to his friend—as to a beloved one, in whom He took pleasure. This reminds us of Jesus’ words to His disciples when He said that they were no longer servants but friends. This is what grace is all about—God and man joining in close communion, not with the distance between a king and his subject, or a master and his slave (though these concepts certainly apply, and we should never fail to recognize them), but with the intimacy of two friends.
Because of our mediator Jesus Christ, whom God loves and adores, we can come into the presence of the Lord without fear. We can come into His presence and enjoy communion with Him in an intimate way, as a friend with a friend, as a son with a father. Think of how glorious this is! This is what the Scripture means when it says that love drives away fear (1 John 4:18). It is not our love, but God’s love for us that does this. When we stand before our Creator in the name of Jesus Christ, whom He loves, we do not need to be afraid, for He loves us. He wants us close to Him, walking with Him as Adam walked beside Him in the garden, face to face, in the love of friendship.
One way of showing someone grace is being warm, kind, and loving. Grace doesn’t mean that we show someone the bare minimum of respect—a cold, detached acknowledgment. We are to treat others the way God treats us. How do you treat others? Coldly, dispassionately, reservedly? Or lovingly and kindly, like Jesus treats His people?
