Moses had seen the glory of the Lord in the cloud. He had communed with God as he received His commandments. Yet, Moses yearned for a fuller knowledge of the Lord. God had said that He knew Moses by name; Moses likewise wanted to know God by name in a full and personal encounter.
In Exodus 34 God fully answered Moses’ request fulfilling the promise in 33:19. Though God could not permit Moses to see the full glory of His face, but He would allow him to see His back. God covered Moses in the crevice of a rock while His glory passed by. He proclaimed His name afresh to Moses: the "I AM" God, who would be gracious to whom He would be gracious and sovereignly merciful. He is eternally the God who is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14)
The response of such a revelation of glory is strict obedience to God (34:11). “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; Do not make any idols. The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.” (34:14,15,17,19,20)
What was the consequence which God has warned? “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you.” (34:12) Isn't this a reminder for us today, not to go down the path of constant pain in daily living, marriage and all other areas of life?
As a result of his communion with God the skin of Moses’ face shone. In the case of us Christians now, we should be reminded that “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18)
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