Exodus 33

Occasionally God gives us a glimpse of what final restoration will look like.  Such a glimpse is necessary after the repeated offenses of God’s people.  How can sinful people ever be truly reconciled with this God? He is the Master builder, building a restoring humanity according to the perfection we left behind in God’s garden in exchange for sin and a curse.  But it grieved God in His heart to destroy man whom He made in His own image, so instead of all of humanity going to the grave, He is making a way for some to go to the cross.  In Exodus 33, however we are still a long way off from Christ’s coming and the kingdom.  But God gives us a glimpse of such a time when joy should be restored.

The glimpse I am referring to is found in verse 11, where “the LORD used to speak to Mose face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.”  Of course I must insist this conversation was not literally face to face, for very shortly in verse 20 God will say, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”  But the manner in which Moses and God are speak are as friends, enjoying one another’s company.  Such a relationship between God and man has not happened since Adam left the garden in disgrace.   But if only for a moment God reveals this much about His future restoration and His plan to redeem men and women back into a sweet fellowship with the Creator.  Only God’s people transformed by the Spirit could long for such a day.  In that day, God will remove the cover of His hand and we will see His face (see Rev. 22:4).

Moses’ heart reflects the heart of anyone who has tasted the goodness of the LORD.  He asked for the very thing that we may now experience in part, but later in the whole–the glory of God (v18).   At the first, God would make as though He would send them along into the promised land with only an angel escort (v3).  Perhaps for some of the Israelites, that would have been just fine.  Not all who are Israel are of Israel and some are only present for the comforts of the day.  But such a proposal is not satisfactory for Moses nor his success the son of Nun.  For them, only God’s presence will do.  Would you enter the kingdom still, if God were not present?  Would the land flowing with milk and honey still be sweet if our Redeemer would refuse to go with us?

The for the sake of one intimate friend, God repented of His proposal and promised to go with them (v15,17).   Israel’s mediator now dead no longer mediates the blessing to the multitudes, and God’s covenant with him has concluded.  But we have a new covenant and with a better Mediator that will never die, and His relationship with the Father is more intimate mediating a better promise.  If this man Moses was great, how much more greater is our Jesus Christ the Lord who is blessed by the Father and bestows on us His sacrificial love.  Our Lord Jesus knows the blessing of God unveiled and so He will share with us His inheritance–for those who would believe on His name.