Murdering friends of God?

I've been reading some pretty amazing things in the Bible.  I'm sure that most quotes on many blogs and tweets are from the new testament, but don't think that the old testament is just old, and less useful.  The God of the old testament is the same God of the new testament, and is compassionate, faithful, and always there.

In Exodus 33:7-11, there are some pretty amazing statements, I think that are worth a thoughtful pondering.  In verse 7, it talks about the tabernacle and how those who met with the LORD would do it there.  Verses 8-9 say, "When Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.  When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses."

Wow!  The God of the universe speaks to a flawed murdering son of slaves!  (You aren't any better than Moses, and neither am I)  God speaks to His people.  The God speaks.  As a comparison, the people I don't know or don't care for, I don't talk to.  What more does it mean that God speaks to His people now?  Don't ever get over this.

The story gets better.

Verses 10-11:  "And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.  Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.  When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."

The LORD spoke to Moses as we have covered, but face to face as a man speaks to his friend?  How could God bring himself to the level of Moses and speak to Him?  Does He do this today?

These two phrases encourage me, and amaze me that the holy creator God cares about His people, speaks to his people, and treats them like friends even though we are rebellious, murderous, lying sinners who deserve destruction.  How much love does it take to treat a person described this way as a friend?

In Isaiah, it talks of a God who dwells with people of a broken and contrite heart.  57:15-16, "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:  "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite."

This is the God we serve, and should serve.  What a pleasure to be His.