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Read 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.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 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.’” So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

The Tent of Meeting

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the Lord

12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you 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.”

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

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 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?”

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.”

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

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. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Go Deeper

This chapter is a reminder that God was not distant from his people in the Old Testament. He didn’t become a new type of God when Jesus came to earth. He has always been at His people’s side because He is a relational God. He eagerly desires to know and be known by His children. In this chapter we get a behind the scenes look at His relationship with Moses. These two have gone on a journey together from slavery, to freedom, to wandering in the desert. All along the way God has been graciously present with Moses. Because of their time together, they have a deep relationship. In fact, God was so close with Moses that he spoke to Him as one would a friend (v. 11).

We can learn a few things about how Moses viewed God from this passage. Primarily, Moses was convinced that he and his people were desperate for God’s presence. He went so far as to basically say “I’m not going anywhere you aren’t going.” (v. 15) Moses also had tremendous boldness with God. He essentially demands to see God’s glory! This was a boldness that flowed out of years of faithfulness. He has seen God’s goodness time and time again, so Moses knew that he could trust God. Moses didn’t have to pull his act together to approach God. He didn’t have to change his desires during his conversation with God. Instead, Moses brought his full self to the Father. And as a result, these two developed a friendship that would change the trajectory of a people.  

Questions
  1. Do you have your own “tent of meeting,” a place where you meet with God?
  2. What stood out to you about Moses and God’s relationship in this chapter?
  3. How do you develop a friendship with God?
Did You Know?

The phrase “stiff necked” is used multiple times to describe Israel when they stubbornly resist God. When donkeys or oxen want to resist the farmer (their master), they intentionally stiffen their necks in order to not turn their heads. This description of Israel’s extreme stubbornness would have made sense to them as they heard it.

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3 thoughts on “Exodus 33”

  1. I agree, Tink, especially after yesterday’s chapter. As we open Exodus 33, we see the disgust God displays for his chosen people, so much so he threatens to distance himself from them and leave them to their own vices. This distresses the people and drives them to mourn and relinquish their idols. But for how long? Moses boldly speaks on behalf of these stiff-necked people and reminds God of a couple of things: He has called these people to be a holy nation and his presence alone distinguishes them from all others. What an exchange is recorded! The Lord is honored by Moses and agrees to reveal his glory to him. Do we realize that God welcomes and can fully handle our tough questions? Many times I have used the very words of holy scripture to plead with God, much like Moses did. I have never been disappointed. Entering into his presence always changes me!

  2. 1 `No but I spent a lot of time in my bed starting in the morning with this [bible study] and ending with prayer Before I go to bed. But I wish that I could have a special place for just me and go where I could step out of life for a moment and just be in the presence of the Lord. But I guess we should be thankful for, prayer for no matter where you are, what you are doing, it is a way to connect yourself with him.

    2 ` I loved verse 11: them talking face to face as friends, freely and openly, clearly and plainly, and not in dreams and visions. Wow, how magnificent would that be!
    I also pick up on the complete honesty and boldness that, mostly Moses, talks with. It is something that inspires me and at the same time appalls me, for I know I’m not that far or strong in my relationship with God and I know my faith is not up to it yet. So if I would, I would just straight up be rude. But it is good to know that Moses grew in his relationship and was at one time also rude instead of bold, and that God did not give up on him, but cindled him to make until he grew and blossomed.

    3 ` I don’t know exactly, it is not like I have a step by step plan. I try to learn about him and his likes and dislikes, his wants and needs, and learn about that what he does for a living ( or hobby ? 😅). I try to get to know Him and accept him In my life and live to his standards. And recently I have started to talk with him and tell him about mij day and feelings and thank him for what he did, does and will do. Sorting that is unmissable in a relationship especially with God. And I’m looking forward to discovering new ways and layers to a stronger friendship with God.

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