FRAMEWORKS:
Exodus 33: Instructions & Petitions
v.1-3
The Lord instructs Moses to move on from Sinai
v.4-6
The People are chastised
v.7-11
Moses at the Tent of Meeting
v.12-16
Moses petitions the Lord
v.17-23
Moses asks to see the Lord's Glory
v.1-3
The Lord instructs Moses to move on from Sinai
v.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.”
v.2
I
will send an angel before you and drive out
the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
v.3
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.'
[Notes:
Sinai has been a place of incredible revelation and
incredible failure, but now it is time to move on. The Lord's
twofold goal had been clearly declared several times – to deliver
Israel OUT of Egypt and lead them INTO the Promised Land of Canaan.
He now instructs Moses to leave. Note also in His description
of what He will do, His first use of the words ‘drive out' since
chapter 23 – see notes at end of that chapter.]
v.4-6
The People are chastised
v.4
When
the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn
and no one put on any ornaments.
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.
[Notes:
The Lord has said He will not go with this foolish people
and so, despite what has just recently gone on, they are distressed
at the thought of going without His Protection. To avoid any repetition
of what has just happened and to act as a warning and reminder
the Lord requires all of their jewelry be confiscated.]
v.7-11
Moses at the Tent of Meeting
v.7
Now
Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance
away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting'. Anyone enquiring of the
Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.
v.8
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.
v.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.
v.10
Whenever
the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to
the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance
to their tent.
v.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 assistant Joshua
son of Nun did not leave the tent.
[Notes:
We now see a regular occurrence that perhaps helped
to settle the people. Having made a [what appears to be] temporary
tent of meeting set up outside the camp [for the construction
of the Tabernacle is yet to follow] Moses would regularly go out
to it to meet with the Lord. When he did, the guiding cloud in
the form of a pillar, stood at the entrance of the tent and whenever
it happened the people bowed in awe. What follows, however, appears
in the course of his second forty days on the mountain. – see
34:28]
v.12-16
Moses First Petition – to be taught God's ways
v.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 favour with me.”
v.13
If
you are pleased with me, teach me your ways
so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember
that this nation is your people.'
v.14
The
Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you
rest.'
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?'
[Notes:
Moses makes a first petition: teach me your ways, teach
me how you work, what are your expectations and so on. Now note
that the Lord does not give a list but simply says He will go
with him. That is God's answer always – not for academic answers
but His own presence.]
v.17-23
Moses Second Petition - to see the Lord's Glory
v.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.'
v.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 in the rock and
cover you with my hand until I have passed by.
v.23
Then
I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must
not be seen.'
[Notes:
Moses has wondered what will mark him out and his people
out. Then comes the second petition: show me your glory or your
splendour. The Lord responds that He will reveal to Moses His
goodness, His mercy and His compassion, but NOT let him see Him
face to face, for [implied] His glory would blind and kill Moses.
He will come and give him a sense of seeing His back, and this
will be enough.]
Continue to Chapter 34