Thus HaShem used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (33:11).
Moses said, “Please show me your glory” and He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘I Am.’HaShem. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. “But,” He said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (33:18-19).
This is another amazing chapter. God directed the people to leave where they were but told them that He wouldn’t be going with them “lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (33:3). The people’s response was to mourn. Once again, Moses interceded for the people and God’s reputation, and God agreed to go with them.
But let’s look again at the verses I quoted above. God used to speak to Moses face to face, but when Moses asked to see God’s glory, God said, “You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (33:20).
It seems that the first instance recounts how Moses went into the tent of meeting and describes how “the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent and HaShem would speak with Moses” – in this case, face to face is not literal, but rather the fact that God spoke out of the cloud to Moses directly. He didn’t speak that way to the others. For them, Moses was the intermediary.
Because, as God said, “You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (33:29), He was going to hide Moses in a cleft of the rock, “and I will cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen (33:22-23).
These verses remind us of how awesome and glorious God is. The fact that Moses was able to converse with Him, the fact that He led His people in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night is amazing. And the fact that we all have access to this awesome, holy God, through Yeshua (Jesus) should fill us with awe and gratitude. I know I too often forget the extent of the glorious majesty of God. It is good to pause and think about this.
Prayer: God, You are the Majestic, Holy, Creator of the universe, King of kings, and Lord of lords! You deserve all glory and honour and praise. Help me to daily stop and think about Your magnificence and Your great love. Amen.
