Exodus 33

Exodus 33:1-3

¹The LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ ²I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. ³Go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”

The LORD spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and…. This scene advances Exodus’ story of redemption, covenant, and presence.

Exodus 33:4

⁴When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry.

When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry. A brief verse carries concentrated light for faith and obedience.

Exodus 33:5

⁵The LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’”

The LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. A brief verse carries concentrated light for faith and obedience.

Exodus 33:6

⁶The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward. A brief verse carries concentrated light for faith and obedience.

Exodus 33:7-11

⁷Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought the LORD went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. ⁸When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent. ⁹When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and the LORD spoke with Moses. ¹⁰All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door. ¹¹The LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought the LORD went out to the Tent…. This scene advances Exodus’ story of redemption, covenant, and presence.

Exodus 33:12-13

¹²Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people;’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ ¹³Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your way, now, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight; and consider that this nation is your people.”

Moses said to the LORD, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people;’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. God draws near in goodness while remaining holy and free.

Exodus 33:14

¹⁴He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”. A brief verse carries concentrated light for faith and obedience.

Exodus 33:15-16

¹⁵Moses said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here. ¹⁶For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”

Moses said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here. This scene advances Exodus’ story of redemption, covenant, and presence.

Exodus 33:17

¹⁷The LORD said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

The LORD said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”. A brief verse carries concentrated light for faith and obedience.

Exodus 33:18-23

¹⁸Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” ¹⁹He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the LORD’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” ²⁰He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.” ²¹The LORD also said, “Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock. ²²It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; ²³then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”

Moses asks to see God’s glory; the LORD promises goodness and Name, hides Moses in the rock, and lets him see His back—presence with holy limit.

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