1. The tent outside the camp (7)

This Tent of Meeting had to be outside the camp, for as yet, the sacrificial system was not in place. God wanted to dwell in the midst of his people, but he would not do so until provision was made for their sins to be atoned for. So only Moses and young Joshua (11b) were permitted to meet God in this Tent of Meeting. Later, there would be another Tent of Meeting--inside the camp (Ex 40:1-7; Nu 2:2).

2. Moses meets God (8-11)

When Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting to meet God, the pillar of cloud descended to the entrance of the tent. All the people would stand and worship until Moses returned to the camp. There, Moses met and talked with God--not just once, but day after day. He was building a personal relationship with God. He was seeking to know God so that he might find out how he and his people might please God. More than anything, he wanted God to agree to go with his people to the promised land.

Application: Lord, help me to meet you day by day as Moses did. Thank you for Jesus, the one and only Mediator between God and man.
One Word: As a man speaks with his friend