Moses: A Good Friend

I've never considered Moses as a "relational" type of person. He grew up thinking he was abandoned by his mom, he killed an Egyptian, he wasn't much of a public speaker/people-person (think "politician") and he was leading a LARGE group of people (can you be relational with that many folks?) Modern psychologists would have LOVED to sit down and chat with Moses!
But, if you look closely enough, Exodus shows us a relational side of Moses. A side that craves close relationships and will do anything to protect them. Check out these verses:

• "Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Exod. 33:11)

And then there's this passage that just jumps out at me. The LORD had decided that He could not travel with His chosen people, because they were sinful and stubborn. This is the conversation that followed this decision... (italics are my own addition as I imagine the conversation)

• The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
  Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
  The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” (Exod. 33:14-17)

Moses knew that God would BE with them, but he passionately asks God to GO with them! He knew that God would provide them with some kind of protection and help, but he wanted GOD to go with them personally.

Moses shows the kind of relationship that God craves from us. A friend-to-friend relationship. A relationship where you sit in a tent together and just talk. A relationship that says, "I don't want to leave this place unless you go with me yourself!"

And when other people KNOW that GOD is with us PERSONALLY...that's what sets us apart from the world.

Is God personally traveling with you? Or have you uprooted and gone on your way without Him?