Chapter 15

Please read Exodus, chapter 33.

Exodus 33:1 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham,. Isaac and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants.”

A grossly rebellious, failing people, and a gracious, faithful God! Hundreds of years ago He promised on oath and He did not, does not forget.

v.3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But . . . I will not go up with you, because you are a stiff necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

An alarming message! Moses may have been surprised and distressed. Once in the past, this same God had told him: ”I have indeed seen, I have heard, I am concerned, so I have come down” (Exodus 3:7,8).

And now ‘I will not go up with you. I might destroy you on the way.”.

God’s judgment on His people had been carried out; three thousand dead in one day; than a plague. But their condition called for more than judgment. It was claiming repentance.

v.4 “When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

True repentance is inwardly earnest, outwardly effective.

v.5 “For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites you are a stiff necked people. If I were to go with you, even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do with you.’ “

v.6 “So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.”

‘I will decide what to do with you’.

Those were the words of the Lord. To Moses He said: ’the people YOU have led up out of Egypt’. The remaining part of this chapter tells us what the Lord decided to do with this people

Exodus 33:7 “Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting’.”

The Lord had promised that He would dwell amongst His people, in a tabernacle. Once a year only the High Priest would be allowed to enter that section called the Holy of Holies, and that not without blood. That happened on what was called ‘the great day of atonement’.

But at the ‘tent of meeting’ there was freedom to enter for anyone who wished to inquire of the Lord.

‘Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the ‘tent of meeting’ outside the camp.’

The Lord was not pleased with the nation, yet He desired to be found by any one of them who would seek Him. He would have His goodness and grace available to all. God’s most wonderful, loving grace The God of the Bible.

Exodus 33: 9 “As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses.”

Now see a little more about honest repentance.

Exodus 33: 10 “When ever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance of his tent.”

Reverently they stood, willingly identifying with their Almighty Leader and His humble, trusted servant.

Exodus 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”

It happened in ‘the tent of meeting’, outside the camp, some distance away.

God has been meeting with men on battlefields, in busy hospitals and noisy barracks, in the homes of the rich and the poor. When ever, wherever He speaks to you, will you listen and respond?

Now hear some words of the conversation, coming from the heart of Moses:

Exodus 33:13 “If You (Lord) are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with You. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

Remember? In his younger life Moses had murdered an Egyptian. Then, for forty years, he was alone with his God in the desert, looking after sheep. Now, alone with God, in the Tent of Meeting, he may speak ‘face to face’ with God. And still prays: ”so I may know You and continue to find favour with You”

It will take a lifetime to learn and know Him and it will take the rest of my days as well.

v.14 “The Lord replied: ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”’

The eternal God, the God of glory, face to face with me, a sinful, failing Christian. Yes, oh yes, and there is still more than that! I hear Him say to me: ’I will give you rest.’( Matthew 11:28).

v.15 “Then Moses said to Him, ‘if Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

v.16 How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth.’ “

What here was the concern in the heart of Moses? Was it about himself? Was it about the people? I think not! The heart of Moses was concerned about the glory of God! The God Who in a mighty and miraculous way had delivered this people out of Egypt. Would the world around begin thinking that He is not a reliable God? Would the nations say: ’The God of Israel surely is not stronger than any of our gods. He is just as unfaithful as our idol-gods.’ That was the concern in the heart of Moses. Glory to God! It also must be of the first importance in our attitudes and actions today.

Exodus 33:17 “And the Lord said to Moses: ’I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you, and I know you by name.’ “

v.18 “Then Moses said: ’Now show me Your glory.’ “

v.19 “And the Lord said: ’I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion’.”

v.20 “But” He said “You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.”

Once Moses had covered his face because he was afraid to look at God (page 3). Now, after a long way of walking with God, Moses desires to see the glory of God How good, how gracious the God of Moses. Seeing the immensity, the light of His glory would have been more than blinding. It would have been destructive. But Moses was precious to the heart of God because the heart of God is mercy and compassion. There is enough for everyone who seeks Him for a Person to person meeting. Today seeking Him offers a precious promise. We find it in the New Testament:

1 John 3 :1-3.

v.2 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

v.3 Everyone who has this hope IN HIM, purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

Are you one of the children of God? Are you sure that He will appear and that you will be like Him, and see Him as He is? One day, those only who have met Him at the Cross of Jesus, will be with Him, in the great tent of meeting, our Father’s house in Heaven

Exodus 33:21 “Then the Lord said,’ there is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock.

v.22 When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

Not unless, at the Cross of Jesus, we have seen part of God’s glory, shall we ever see the fullness. But to the praise and glory of His holy Name His mighty hand will cover all who will, at the Cross of Jesus, acknowledge that forgiving, compassionate glory of God. Until we see Him, face to face.

v.23 “Then I will remove My hand, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

When Moses passed away, left this earthly body behind in a grave, God did remove His hand and Moses was allowed to meet Him face to face. Forever he is at home in His Father’s house.