Present Yourself

Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai,

and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. — Exodus 34:2

True friendship is a rare and wonderful thing. It derives from the recognition in the soul of another, a like-heartedness as well as a like-mindedness. Acts 13:22, speaking of the removal of Saul as king, states, "And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, 'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'"

The first friendship we encounter in the Bible is when God walked into the garden in Eden during the cool of the day to meet with his friends Adam and Eve. Notice, it is God who initiated the encounter." It is always God Who initiates the relationship with His creatures. What a tremendous thought! God desires to meet with His creation — us!

Moses was another fellow believer who was considered a friend of God. "The 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 33:11

And here is a proof text which speaks of the friendship relationship God desires to have with each of us: “Since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.” (Romans 5:10 New Living Translation)

The main point I want to make in these thoughts about being friends with God is that we should never treat that relationship with a familiarity that tries to reduce God to "best buds" status. God is always the One who takes the initiative in the friendship relationship; not man. 

Moses may have been friends with God, but he was still told to "present" himself on the top of the mountain. There is a formality in that description, the same air of formality one might have when meeting with a king. And, is He not, after all, the King of Creation? The instruction to present himself was not a suggestion; it was a command!

Does one command a friend? Yes, one does if He is God. God is the infinite Being. As finite creatures, we can never know Him fully. We should certainly approach friendship with him having an attitude of profound deference and respect.

The age we live in is marked by a high degree of informality, sloppiness and undisciplined living in almost every facet of the culture. The root of that is found in unbelief. Do not expect that God will endorse the informality prevalent in our time. He is the everlasting, unchanging God and it behooves us to conform to His character, not the other way around.

When Moses presented himself to God on the top of Mount Sinai, what did the Lord do? To begin with, God doesn't wait on man, so Moses had to be there first. After descending on a cloud, He stood with Moses and proclaimed His name. "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (Exodus 34: 6)

Is God asking you to be ready in the morning to go to the top of your personal mountain to meet with Him so He can reveal to you His mercy and grace, His patience, faithfulness and unfailing love? "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking!" (Hebrews 12:25)

• As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire. — Daniel 7:9