UNROLL
Dawn on a wide stony plain below bare granite ridges; far out from a huge dark camp of tents, one small plain tent stands alone with a thin path worn to it.

The Book of

Exodus 33

God spared His people after the calf, but He said He would not go with them. Moses would not go anywhere without Him, and then he asked for more: to see God’s glory.

23 verses≈ 5 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–6Slaves in EgyptOppression and a deliverer
  2. 7–13The plaguesThe LORD against Pharaoh
  3. 14–18Through the seaRescued and led
  4. 19–24At SinaiThe covenant and the law
  5. 25–31A place to dwellThe tabernacle planned
  6. 32–40Broken and renewedThe calf, mercy, the gloryChapter 33

The Command to Leave Sinai

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

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Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”

Mount SinaiEgyptCanaan

Stylised map · locations approximate

On the map

Leave this place

Out of Egypt, to Sinai, and now on to “a land flowing with milk and honey,” the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Mount Sinai (Horeb) is traditionally Jebel Musa in the south of the peninsula, but its site is uncertain; the dashed line is one proposed route.

When the people heard this bad news, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry. For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’”

So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

Reflect

Everything but God

God offered Israel the land, an angel to lead them and victory over their enemies, “But I will not go with you.” The people heard it as “bad news” and mourned. Would you? Write down the good things you most want in life. Then ask yourself honestly: if you could have all of them without God, would that feel like good news or bad?

The Tent of Meeting

As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.

Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent.

Question

Quick question

When Moses had spoken with the LORD, he went back to the camp. Someone else stayed behind.

Who would not leave the Tent of Meeting?

The Promise of God’s Presence

Moses

Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’ Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”

God

And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Moses

“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

God

So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.”

My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Exodus 33:14

Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.”

“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”

High on a red-granite mountain at first light, a man's small shape shelters, seen from behind, deep in a narrow cleft of rock while bright light passes across the rock beyond.

The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”

0:18

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

Show me Your glory

Moses prayed, “If Your Presence does not go with us,” then “do not lead us up from here,” and later, “Please show me Your glory.” Make his prayers yours. Tell God you do not want to go anywhere without Him. Thank Him that the glory Moses saw only in passing has been made known in Jesus. Ask Him to let you know His ways, that you may know Him.

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Exodus 33

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A verse to carry with you

My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Exodus 33:14

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