Moses and God have an amazing relationship. Moses would take retreats, 40 days at a time, to hang out with God on Mount Sinai. “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11.

And Moses was the only one who had this intimate relationship with God. It was Moses’ job to speak on behalf of the people, to plead with God for their lives. He could approach God with big requests. He says, “Please show me your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight.” Exodus 33:13

Moses wants to know God more, because he has a real relationship with him. Moses understands that the more he knows God, the more he will be able to please God, because he will know what pleases God.

Fast-forward a couple thousand years. Jesus is getting ready to be crucified, and he is hanging out with his disciples for the last time. These are his last words, sort of a summation of the last three years of his life: “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15

He calls us his friends right after he asks for our obedience. John 15:10

It is important that Jesus clarifies our relationship as his friend rather than his servant because he wants our obedience out of love for him, not obligation. He wants us to pursue knowing him, and our obedience will follow, just as I want to please and honor my close friends. Jesus gives us a promise after he asks us to pursue him in obedience, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

We, like Moses get to know God, and he is asking for our friendship.