6 You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves. 33:12–18). 5 1. 17 And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. Exodus 33:18-23  Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”  (19)  And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 18); and, further, he shall be so placed as to see as much as mortal man can behold of "his glory" - God will pass by him, and when he has passed, Moses shall be allowed to look after him, and see what is here called "his back." © 2021 // Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church - Richfield, WI. God is present throughout the events of the exodus. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. Of Asaph, a Psalm. Maimonides on Moses Seeing God’s Face / Back Guide to the Perplexed: Part One, Chapters 37 and 38 On Exodus 33:12-23 Samuel Ready I) Introduction Exodus 33: 12-23 presents a conversation between Moses and G-d shortly after the incident of the golden calf, after which Moses returns enlightened. Moses (/ ˈ m oʊ z ɪ z,-z ɪ s /), also known as Moshe Rabbenu (Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ‎ lit. But later, Moses was not allowed to see God's face. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’” (Exodus 33:19–23). Using Human Traits to Describe God Unraveling the problem begins with a simple truth: God is spirit. and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back: but my face shall not be seen. Generally, we tend to think of the backside of anything as its worst side. God then places Moses in a cleft in the rock, covers Moses with his hand until God passes by, then removes his hand so Moses may see only his back. This is not a satisfactory answer for two reasons that I can think of. (20)  But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”  (21)  And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,  (22)  and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. So, Moses saw God's glory passing by, which means a change of position. The devil, we are told, gets the hindmost. It is like turning on the spiritual lights: when we know God personally, we begin to know the truth about God, ourselves, and our world. Does God really have a “hand,” “face,” and “back”? And even after God, says I will be with you, We see Moses is still hesitant, he says. This was how Moses “came to Horeb, the mountain of God.” When Moses saw the lamb drink thirstily from the brook, he said, “Little lamb, had I known that you were so thirsty, I would have carried you to the water on my own back!” After hearing that, God said, “Moses is worthy of being the leader of my people.” Notwithstanding God’s being gracious and compassionate to whomever He chose, Moses could not see God’s face and live. That is possible, but less likely than the next possibility. This personal relationship changes everything in our world. Shepherd of the Hills, a Lutheran Church, located in Richfield, Wisconsin serves the surrounding communities including Hubertus, Colgate, Slinger, Germantown and Menomonee Falls. A Testimony. While in prison those four years Joseph saw God's back and waited for God to reveal His salvation. Jesus said in John 6:46, “Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.” God also said to Moses say to the israelites, the lord, the god of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob has sent me to you. 9 years ago. And does God need such things as literal hands with opposable thumbs? Let your face shine, that we may be saved! Anonymous. 13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it. 8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. More importantly it does not make sense for the creator of the universe, who made all things including material things, for himself to be made of the materials he created. Acts 5:19 – An angel rescued Peter from prison. YHWH God visited Moses in Mount Sinai but Moses could see only the back side of God. The Bible doesn’t tell us the name of the Pharaohs in power when Moses was being raised in the palace, or when he returned years later to lead the Israelites to freedom. Today’s passage is one of several which help us to stop taking God’s graciousness for granted. Exodus 33:18-23. (23)  Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”. 32: 11-14). “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen,” (Exodus 33:23). God is outraged at sin, in the same way that you and I get outraged when we see others being unfair to the people we love. Because God is holy, God cannot tolerate sin. Through the meaning of his name for, or less than he for! But Moses could not see God ’ s being gracious and compassionate to whomever he,! ; you drove out the nations and planted it, says I will take my hand away and. It took deep root and filled the land physical person with literal body parts including face. 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