Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 33:7 - 34:4
As we go through life, we face many decisions. Oftentimes, we have to make decisions without having all the information we would like to have. Many times decisions are hard because we don’t know the future. We don’t know if our choice will turn out to be the right choice or the wrong choice.
When we are in those predicaments, we often wish God would give us explicit, verbal instructions regarding what we should do. We wish He would enlighten us about the unknowns that make our decisions difficult.
While it is normal for us to desire clear, verbal guidance from God, perhaps it is good God doesn’t speak to us face to face. We will read some verses today that warn us that if we would receive precise guidance from Yahweh, we may not live to tell about it.
Ex. 33:7 ¶ Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought Yahweh would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.
Ex. 33:8 And it happened whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent.
Ex. 33:9 And it happened whenever Moses entered the tent, that the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and Yahweh would speak with Moses.
Ex. 33:10 And all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent. And all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent.
Ex. 33:11 Thus Yahweh used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, and his attendant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
Look at the phrase “face to face”. Yahweh spoke with Moses as a man speaks to his friend.
Many Christians are often frustrated because God does not speak to us face to face. He does not give us explicit instructions when we face decisions and are not sure the best course of action. We wish God would give us clear verbal direction, just as He did for Moses.
Ex. 33:12 ¶ Then Moses said to Yahweh, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’
Ex. 33:13 So now, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. See also, that this nation is Your people.”
Moses essentially wanted clarity. He wanted to know what would happen before it would happen. He did not want to set out for the Promised Land without knowing who would go with them. He wanted all the information about the journey before the journey started.
This is a normal desire of all humans, including Christians. Walking by faith means moving ahead without having all the answers regarding how needs will be provided. Humans generally do not like to do that. We want all the unknowns eliminated before we start a journey.
Ex. 33:14 And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Ex. 33:15 Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.
Ex. 33:16 Indeed, how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”
Ponder the word “distinguished”. Israel was different than every other nation because their God was a living God. When Israel moved through the wilderness, their God had power and could act to benefit them.
Ex. 33:17 ¶ Then Yahweh said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight, and I have known you by name.”
The phrase “you have found favor in My sight” explains the high regard Yahweh had for Moses and why Yahweh was willing to meet with Moses face to face. Keep in mind, Moses had murdered an Egyptian many years before, so a person does not have to be perfect to earn God’s favor.
Ex. 33:18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
Even though Yahweh was speaking with Moses face to face in the tent, apparently, Moses was not seeing Yahweh’s full glory.
Ex. 33:19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of Yahweh before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”
This verse is an important statement about Yahweh’s sovereignty. He alone chooses who will receive grace and compassion. His decisions cannot be appealed and overturned by a high authority because Yahweh is the highest authority.
Ex. 33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”
Even though Moses found favor in the sight of Yahweh, even Moses could not see Yahweh’s face and live.
Christians are often frustrated because God does not speak to us face to face. However, we should consider the possibility that if God would speak to us face to face, we would not survive the experience. Getting that close to God may kill us.
Ex. 33:21 Then Yahweh said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;
Ex. 33:22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
Ex. 33:23 Then I will remove My hand, and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”
Even Moses, a man who spoke with God face to face and found favor in God’s sight, could not see God’s face. God’s glory was too much for Moses. The most he could tolerate was seeing God’s back.
Ex. 34:1 ¶ Now Yahweh said to Moses, “Carve out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered.
Ex. 34:2 So be prepared by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain.
Ex. 34:3 And no man is to come up with you, nor let any man be seen anywhere on the mountain; even the flocks and the herds may not graze in front of that mountain.”
Pay attention to the exclusion zone. Yahweh is holy. He is not to be treated cavalierly.
Ex. 34:4 So he carved out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as Yahweh had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand.
It is normal that we Christians get frustrated when we have a decision to make, but we don’t have all the information we need to make a good decision. Sometimes our frustration is driven by the fact we know that God has all the details we want, and yet He doesn’t speak to us face to face and give us clear, specific guidance. We read stories in the Bible about God giving audible direction to people, and we wish He would do the same for us.
On the other hand, the Bible is also clear that God is a holy God. He is to be respected, revered, and feared. The reality is no human can see God in all His glory and live to tell about it. That means perhaps God does not give us audible guidance in order to protect us. If He did get close enough to us to give us audible instructions, we may end up deceased.
What is a time in your life when you wished God would give you audible instructions about what to do?
How is the lack of audible guidance from God an opportunity to demonstrate faith in God?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”