Exodus 33, 34 ~ Resolving the Conflict of Exodus 34:6-7
Why did a distance need to be constantly maintained between the people and the glory? What is it about this glory?
In Friday’s post, Law and Glory, we saw the deadly wrath that came on the children of Israel when they broke the Law, and we discussed the fear they experienced when Moses descended Mt. Sinai the second time carrying not only the Law but the glory of God. The combination of law and glory is, in fact, a fearful thing.
As the story continues, once again, we see a distance created between the people and God. How? Moses places a veil over his face creating yet another separation.
Let’s take a look into the nature of the glory of God. Fortunately, we can get a glimpse of it in the book of Exodus where Moses documents the details of his encounter with that glory.
After their egregious sin, Moses intercedes on the people’s behalf and makes a startling request which God answers with a promise.
Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” Exodus 33: 18-19
Moses is then told to ascend Mt. Sinai and, once again, God warns that no man is to come up or be found anywhere on the mountain. With all in order, God then grants Moses his request by letting him see His glory!
Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin… Exodus 34:6-7a
Now we too have gotten a glimpse. Notice the remarkable nature of the glory of God. It was just as God had said it would be… “I will make all my goodness pass before you…”
The glory of God is, in fact, the goodness of God. Knowing that this is the nature of God’s glory, what is left to say but that God’s glory is glorious! But wait…. if this is the nature of the glory of God, why is it so necessary to keep a distance? If it is characterized by compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and love, what’s the reason for fear? It’s because there’s more to the story…because there’s more to the glory. The revealing of God’s glory didn’t stop there!
It is worth our pausing in the midst of this parade of God’s glory in order to note what many have never recognized; that the overwhelming, nearly indescribable goodness of God is the nature of the glory. However, that is not the total picture, for continuing to read Moses’ account, we encounter this show-stopping word….yet! That pesky conjunction is going to rain on this “glory parade” with its disturbing meaning…
nevertheless, in spite of that, at the same time
So, God is amazingly compassionate and gracious, nevertheless…
God is boundlessly loving and kind, but in spite of that….
God is mercifully forgiving, but at the same time….
All of this goodness is God’s glory…yet, there is a “yet”. After having revealed all these “glorious” characteristics, God continues the “show”, declaring….
… yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished… Exodus 34:7b
So, why were the people so fearful of the glory? Why did Moses create the “veil” of separation? Why maintain a distance? According to God’s description of Himself as revealed to Moses, it’s because the glory of God is goodness and wrath. When we are under law (any system of rules), we can’t access the goodness of God for deserving the wrath of God. Without blood, instituted by God as a means to escape that wrath, we can’t draw near…we better keep our distance.
Fortunately, we know that spotless blood has been shed on our behalf. We’ll talk more about all this in the next few days, but for now I want to end on this somewhat negative note. Let’s not move on too quickly, for it’s important to take some time to realize and to ponder the total nature of God. We’ll see why as we continue….
Don’t miss the great visual P.S. (“post” script) here
…and get new insight into Paul’s revelation concerning this veil and this glory here
Image from NASA
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