¹¹ Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

Our church has recently experienced the retirement of Alan Harvey, a long-tenured, much-loved pastor in our midst. With kind words, video tributes, gifts, and a drive-by farewell, we have been able to celebrate 22 wonderful years of ministry together. In watching this process over the past two months, I have been impressed with how friends relate to friends. And Alan is a dear friend to many.

With the sensation of friendship fresh in our souls, I wanted to reflect on a little line from the book of Exodus. As the people of God were on their wilderness journey, there was a tent pitched outside the camp known as “the tent of meeting.” When Moses would go to the tent, the people watched as a pillar would descend on the tent (showing that God Almighty was present.) And Moses would speak to the Lord face to face, “as one speaks to a friend.”

Do you know what it is like to enjoy the company of a friend like Alan? Can you feel the warmth, the care, the ease at which love flows? That same sensation is offered as we journey to the tent of meeting for our conversations with God. “… as one speaks to a friend.”

Prayer

God, I know You are ready and willing to meet with me today. Let’s continue the tender conversation as friends ….. Amen.