Your Friend, God: Week 2
[Exodus 3:3-6 NLT] – 3 "This is amazing," Moses said to himself. "Why isn't that bush burning up? I must go see it." 4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" "Here I am!" Moses replied. 5 "Do not come any closer," the LORD warned. "Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
Attention — The Burning Bush - Moses turns aside and notices God. Exodus 3:1–“Moses' first response isn't friendship. It's fear.
Honesty — The Burning Bush Conversation - Moses brings God his fears and questions. Exodus 3–4 “Friendship allows for honest conversation.
Dependence — Egypt - Moses learns to return to God when life gets difficult. Exodus 5–6 “Friendship develops through repeated conversation.”
History — The Plagues - Moses experiences God’s faithfulness again and again. Exodus 7–12 “Friendship grows through shared history.”
Trust — The Red Sea - Moses learns to trust God in impossible situations. Exodus 14 “Friendship becomes trusting in the other”
Reliance — The Wilderness - Moses brings the needs of the people to God. Exodus 15–17 “ I can't navigate this life and it's a difficulties without friendship”
Presence — Sinai - Moses learns to remain with God and listen. Exodus 19–24 “ friendship is deepen when time is spent together”
Intercession — The Golden Calf - Moses begins to care about what God cares about. Exodus 32 “friendship cause us to care for others”
Friendship — “The Tent of Meeting” God speaks with Moses “face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” Exodus 33:11 “friendship is sharing”
Exodus 33:11 NLT – 11 Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
Hunger — The more Moses knows God, the more he wants to know Him. Exodus 33:13, 18 “friendship cause us to hunger for more relationship”
Transformation — Time with God becomes visible in Moses’ life. Exodus 34:29 “friendship transforms/changes who we are”
“Friendship with God isn't simply having God close to us. It is allowing that closeness to change us.”
[Exodus34:29-31 NLT] – 29 When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn't aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the LORD. 30 So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses' face, they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them.
