The Tent of Meeting: A Place of Friendship with God

 

“The Tent of Meeting: A Place of Friendship with God”

Text: Exodus 33:7–11

In Exodus 33:7–11, we are told about the “tent of meeting” which Moses set up outside the Israelite camp. This was not yet the great Tabernacle that God later commanded them to build, but a temporary place where Moses could seek the Lord. It was here that “the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” What a beautiful picture of intimacy with God!

 Why the Tent of Meeting Was Built
After the golden calf incident in Exodus 32, Israel’s relationship with God was broken. The camp itself had been defiled by sin. So Moses took a tent and pitched it outside the camp. This was a reminder that sin separates people from God. Yet it also showed God’s mercy: He was still willing to meet with His people through His chosen servant. The tent became a symbol of hope, forgiveness, and restored fellowship.

A Little History of the Tent of Meeting
Before the Tabernacle was constructed (Exodus 35–40), the tent of meeting served as a temporary sanctuary. Anyone who sought the Lord could go there, but it was primarily the place where Moses would meet with God. A pillar of cloud would descend at the entrance when the Lord spoke with Moses, and the people would stand in reverence and worship at their own tents. This tent pointed forward to the permanent dwelling place of God among His people, first in the Tabernacle, later in the Temple, and ultimately fulfilled in Christ, who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

Moses’ Relationship with God
The tent of meeting was not the beginning of Moses’ walk with God—it was part of a long journey of trust and obedience.

• Moses first encountered God at the burning bush (Exodus 3), where he was called to deliver Israel.

• He stretched out his hand over the waters at the Red Sea, and God parted it so Israel could escape Egypt (Exodus 14).

• He went up Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments, beholding God’s glory in a unique way.

Each of these moments prepared Moses for deeper intimacy with God. By the time we reach Exodus 33, the Lord speaks with him “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” This is one of the greatest honors given to any human being in Scripture—and it came because Moses walked faithfully with God.

Lessons for Us Today
Moses’ life shows us what God can do when we allow Him to shape us. Moses was not perfect—he doubted, questioned, and even failed at times—but he continually returned to God. Because of that, God transformed him into a faithful servant and intercessor for His people.

We too are invited into that kind of relationship. Through Jesus Christ, we have direct access to God’s presence. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” And in John 15:15, Jesus says to His disciples, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends.”

Just as Moses was called the friend of God, so we too can walk with God as His children and friends when we surrender our lives to Him.

Our "Tent" of Meeting
The tent of meeting reminds us that God desires to meet with His people—not from a distance, but up close, in fellowship and love. Moses’ story—from the burning bush to the Red Sea to speaking with God as a friend—teaches us that a faithful walk with God transforms us into vessels He can use. If God could take a reluctant shepherd like Moses and make him into a mighty leader and friend of God, then He can change us too—if we let Him.

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