“Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.” – Exodus 33:1.
FaceTime is an application, or app, for making video and voice calls over the internet. It’s great for keeping in touch if you and most of your friends and family use devices from Apple. Can we do the same thing with God? In essence, “FaceTime with God” is a modern way of expressing the timeless desire for a personal relationship with the Lord, characterized by prayer, reflection, and a willingness to encounter God’s presence in one’s life.
There are a few people in history who have experienced the remarkable reality of seeing and experiencing more of God than others. One of them was Moses. Exodus 33:11 says, “the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” Just like with human relationships, this relationship didn’t happen overnight. In Exodus 3 and 4, we read of God igniting this relationship through the burning bush. Despite God’s display of power and authority, Moses gave reasons why he couldn’t lead the Hebrews from captivity. But, as the exodus of God’s people progresses, Moses becomes more and more intimate with God, to the point where he finds himself “face to face” with God regularly.
Let that sink in. God spoke with Moses face to face. He related and interacted with Moses in a vocal form. Moses spent significant time with the LORD, inquiring from Him on what to do, and listening to Him regarding the people of Israel. It’s the kind of intimate relationship that develops over time, and it’s tested through trials of life, and Moses experienced more than his share of trials.
Time with God is important – and most certainly not another “thing” on the to-do list. Like any relationship, if we genuinely want to know that person, we make the effort. God is always with us. Our relationship with God is the key to moving beyond knowing about God to knowing Him personally. It’s the key to living a spirit-led, fruitful, and holy life that pleases God. And ultimately, it’s part of the process through which we’re transformed and become more like Him.
Spending time face-to-face with God will change your life. It is an essential part of a Christian’s life. It’s a time when you can rest in His presence, read His Word, and speak to Him in prayer. But the idea of connecting with God can be challenging. But, what a difference would it make if we aggressively seek the face of Jesus? One day, it will happen physically, and it won’t be a dream or a hope. God promises in 1 Corinthians 13:12-13, which says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
FaceTime with God can help us develop a devotional focus on creating a close, personal relationship with God through prayer, reflection, and spending time in His presence. This practice emphasizes the importance of seeking God’s face, trusting His timing, and allowing Him to transform our hearts and lives.
Discussion Questions:
- What does the phrase “FaceTiming with God” suggest? What kind of intimacy or connection does it evoke in a relationship with God?
- How does the idea of seeing God’s “face” in a personal and direct way, similar to a FaceTime call, compare to or differ from other ways of conceptualizing connecting with God (e.g., prayer, Bible study, worship)?