Intimacy With God: Seven Observations from the Life of Moses
Moshe (Moses) knew that, in addition to the command of God, he needed other spiritual resources to succeed in life’s journey. How about ourselves? What else do we need to energize and to guide our spiritual journey besides the command of God? In other words, what do we mean when we talk of having a relationship with God?
The passage detailing Moses' encounter with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 33 and 34) is one of the richest in scripture for answering this question. In this post, we will make seven observations that may help you aspire to and acquire a more intimate relationship with God.
1. Intimacy With God is Possible
Ours is a God who chooses to reveal himself, although he also hides himself. Moses' prayer reflects this foundational truth:
"Now then, I pray, if I have found grace in Your eyes, show me Your ways, so that I may know You, so that I might find favor in Your sight." (Exodus 33:13)
- A Continuous Cycle: For Moses, finding favor in God’s eyes and therefore growing in the knowledge of God is a never-ending cycle.
- A Growing Appetite: We seek to be pleasing to Him that He might reveal to us more of Himself, which then creates the appetite to know Him even more.
- The Foundation: We only know of God what He chooses to reveal. Our lives should therefore be centered on seeking that revelation.
2. Intimacy With God is Essential
Intimacy with God is crucial for spiritual satisfaction in life’s journey, both for the spiritual giants (like Moses) and the rest of us. Moses would not go forward without assurance:
"If Your presence does not go with me, don’t let us go up from here! For how would it be known that I or your people have found favor in Your sight? Isn’t it because You go with us, that distinguishes us from all the people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16)
- The Accompanied Life: God grants his people an accompanied life, one in which He goes with us. This was powerfully pictured in the Exodus story:
- "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people." (Exodus 13:21-22)
3. Spiritual Appetite is a Sign of Intimacy
The desire for more of God is a healthy spiritual indicator. Moses' bold request demonstrates a profound level of intimacy:
"Then he said, “Please, show me Your glory!”" (Exodus 33:18)
- No Complacency: It is not a good sign when we grow complacent about our knowledge of God. We should always be seeking more.
- Seeking Him Out: God sometimes hides Himself so that we might come and seek Him. Our desire to pursue His glory is a sign that we value the relationship.
4. Intimacy Involves a Deepened Sense of His Character
Intimacy with God involves a deepened sense of who He really is and what He is really like. God responds to Moses by proclaiming His character:
"Then Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, showing mercy to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..." (Exodus 34:6-7)
- Knowing the Heart: Knowing God intimately is like a very good marriage where each partner knows how the other thinks and feels even without asking. We gain a reliable sense of His compassion, justice, and faithfulness.
5. Our Revealed Knowledge is Necessarily Limited
While God reveals Himself, our finite nature imposes limits on that revelation.
"But He also said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live.” ... I will take away My hand, and you will see My back, but My face will not be seen." (Exodus 33:20, 23)
- For Our Good: Limits are in place for our own good. God shields us from the full force of His glory while still giving us a sufficient glimpse of His presence.
6. Intimacy is Linked to Covenantal Faithfulness
Intimacy with God is not a one-sided endeavor; it requires our honoring the covenant He makes with us. This is why the renewed tablets and the warning against idolatry follow immediately:
"Carve for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write upon them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. ... For you are to bow down to no other god, because Adonai is jealous for His Name—He is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:1, 14)
- A Mutual Relationship: If we are to have an intimate relationship with God, it must be a relationship from both sides. God makes Himself more available to us when we honor Him according to the stipulations of the covenant.
7. Intimacy Implies Experiencing His Power
A true relationship with God will manifest in our lives through His active work and intervention.
"Then He said, “I am cutting a covenant. Before all your people I will do wonders, such as have not been done in all the earth, or in any nation. All the people you are among will see the work of Adonai—for what I am going to do with you will be awesome!" (Exodus 34:10)
- Divine Intervention: There will certainly come times when God will surprise us with His powerful interventions, reminding us that we are in relationship with the Almighty.
Seeking His Face
To grow in this intimacy, we must commit to three key actions:
1. SEEK HIS FACE
2. STUDY HIS WORD
3. HONOR HIM IN ACTION
As Jesus taught:
"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him." (John 14:21)
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For many years, decades, one song tends to stand above all the rest, both coming to my mind and to my lips. “Let us exalt his name together.“ I saw the song associated with Rich Cook, but then found it was yours both the music and lyrics. Rather, yours and David’s!
I want to thank you for putting to music what tethers us to the Almighty, our YHWH.
Yes, let us exalt His name together!