INTIMACY

1. What is intimacy with God?

a) The word "intimacy" carries with it the aspects of a relationship with someone where we are vulnerable, loving, trusting, etc. To have an intimate relationship with God means that the deepest part of us is having a relationship with a deep part of God. Of course, we cannot fathom the deepest part of God, but He condescends to our level and reveals a part of Himself that only the Christian (through the cross of Christ) can enjoy. In addition, in heaven, this intimacy will not be hindered by sin.

b) The model of true intimacy is the Trinity. God is a Trinity of persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, our intimacy with God (and with each other) is ultimately a reflection of God’s intimacy within the members of the Godhead. This means that intimacy is an essential part of the very nature of God and because we are made in His image, it is natural to us as well. This is why we are capable of intimacy with others and with God. It is in our nature.

c) Our intimacy with God first began in the Garden of Adam and Eve when God walked with man (Gen. 2, 3). It was something that God desired. As we know, Adam sinned and the intimacy with God was lost. But, God had a plan and He covered Adam and Eve with animal skins and shedding blood in the process (typifying the sacrifice of Christ in the future) so that the fellowship with mankind could be restored. This was realized at the cross where Jesus became sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5: 21: “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God”) and bore our sins in His body (1 Peter 2: 24: “He himself (Jesus) bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”). Therefore, we are able to come to God through Jesus our mediator (1 Timothy 2: 5: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”).

d) Since Jesus is God in flesh, our mediator, this means that the intimacy we have with God is with Christ. In fact, we are "called into fellowship with His Son, Christ Jesus" in 1 Corinthians 1: 9: “God who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” The word "fellowship" in the Greek is "koinonia" which is translated in the KJV as "communion" in 1 Corinthians 11 in reference to the communion supper. It is interesting that communion is the place where we accept the ultimate vulnerability of God in Christ who humbled Himself by becoming susceptible to death. In this, I think, is a clue to true intimacy with God: humility. As Christ was humble to the point of death, so we too must be humble to the point of death; that is, death to ourselves, our selfish desires, our personal wants. When compared to God, our purpose should not be to see what we can get from Him. It should be to glorify Him and to love Him. Pride seeks its own. Humility seeks others. Isn't that what intimacy is, the seeking of another in the deepest sense? How can we do this if we are proud?

e) Intimacy with God is a privilege freely given to us by Christ in His sacrifice on the cross. He removed our sins so that we might dwell with God. Therefore, if there is sin in your life it will hinder your fellowship, your intimacy with God. Ask Jesus to reveal your sins to you so that you might repent of them and not hinder the fellowship of intimacy that God so lovingly desires with you.

2. How intimate (close) was Moses to God?

a) God speaking to Moses face to face.

i) 8And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (Exodus 33:8-11 NIV)

ii) 5Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, 6he said, “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. 7But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:5-8 NIV)

3. What did intimacy with God do for Moses?

a) God allowed Moses to see His back but not His face when His glory went by.

i) 17And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:17-23 NIV)

4. Prayer Focus

a) Pray that we desire to have intimacy with God.