Broadcast
Seeing God's Back - Part 3
Exodus 33:21-23
01/17/2024
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.
23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see
my back, but my face shall not be seen. (ESV)
Moses, desiring to know more about God, asked, ``Please show
me Your glory.'' God, in His mercy, explained that a sinner
cannot see the face of God and live. Yet He was willing to show
Moses as much of His glory as possible.
And the LORD said, ``Behold, there is a place by me
where you shall stand on the rock, 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.
Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my
back, but my face shall not be seen.
Moses saw God's back. God's face was hidden. Yet, even
with this glimpse of God's glory, Moses was overwhelmed. He
truly knew of God's love, grace, and mercy. The all-creating
Lord showed Moses enough of His glory that Moses was able to lead
the rebellious children of Israel for the next forty years.
Unlike the other prophets, Moses was in the presence of God,
he did not simply see visions or hear God's voice. Isaiah and
Ezekiel saw angels, and David wrote the Psalms under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but they did not behold even
God's back in same way as Moses.
This is more than an interesting story, for it impacts the
Church today. We will look at this more closely in the days to
come.
May our Lord grant that you see Him in His Son, Jesus
Christ. Amen.