exodus 33

Exodus 33 Overview

• God's Command to Moses

  • The Lord commands Moses to lead the Israelites to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

  • God promises to send an angel to guide and drive out the inhabitants: Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

  • God declares He will not go with them because they are a stiff-necked people, potentially consuming them.

  • The people mourns upon hearing this news and removed their ornaments.

• Call to Repentance

  • God refers to the Israelites as a stiff-necked people.

  • Moses instructs them to remove their ornaments to show humility.

  • The people comply and strip off their ornaments near Mount Horeb.

The Tabernacle and Worship

• Moses and the Tabernacle

  • Moses sets up the Tabernacle far from the camp and names it the "tabernacle of the congregation."

  • Those who sought the Lord went to the Tabernacle, indicating a desire for repentance and relationship with God.

• God's Presence

  • When Moses entered the Tabernacle, a cloud (the presence of God) descended, showing God's nearness.

  • The people worshipped as Moses communicated with God face to face, indicating a unique relationship.

  • Joshua remained in the Tabernacle, reflecting loyalty and desire for God's presence.

Moses' Intercession

• Dialogue with God

  • Moses expresses concern about leading the people without knowing who God would send with him.

  • God reassures Moses that His presence will accompany them, granting peace.

  • Moses questions the significance of their identity as God's people without His presence among them.

  • God affirms His commitment to Moses and the people, acknowledging Moses by name and recognizing his grace.

• Request for Divine Revelation

  • Moses pleads to see God's glory, illustrating his deep desire for intimacy with God.

  • God responds by promising to reveal His goodness and proclaim His name but warns Moses he cannot see His face.

God’s Revelation

• A Unique Encounter

  • God tells Moses to stand on a rock and offers protection while His glory passes by.

  • Moses is covered in the cleft of the rock, symbolizing God’s provision for safety in His holiness.

• Sinai Experience

  • Moses experiences a revelation of God’s back but is instructed that seeing God's face would result in death.

  • This illustrates God's holiness and the safeguarding required in His presence.

Key Themes

• Stiff-Necked Nature of People

  • Repeated characterization highlights the Israelites' resistance to follow God fully.

• Importance of God's Presence

  • Moses underscores that God’s presence is crucial for their identity and journey.

• Divine Mercy and Grace

  • God's willingness to show mercy and grace upon whom He chooses reflects His sovereignty.