The Presence of God, Exodus 33

This entire chapter is full of insight concerning the presence (face) of God.  We are in someone’s presence when we are in front of them where they can see us and we can see them.  We are face to face with them.  Here is an outline study, so to speak, that we hope provides much content for meditation!

·        Separation from God’s presence is the defining effect of the fall.  Adam and Eve, when they sinned, hid from God’s presence.  Guilt does that, makes us want to push God away.  But also we see that God wanted to stay away from Israel’s presence because they were stubborn and rebellious.  Instead He was going to just send His angel.

·        Moses enjoyed a face to face relationship with God.  He knew God by name.  He had found grace (favor) with God’s sight (eyes).  And he was not alone in finding favor with God: so had Noah (Gen. 6:8), Abraham (Gen. 18:3) and even Lot (Gen. 19:19).  Finding favor (grace) with God is pre-requisite to being in His presence.  Believers in Christ are those who have found grace, saving grace, grace that establishes a relationship with God through Christ.  No longer are we separated from God.  Because our sins and iniquities have been removed from the relationship we know God (Heb. 8:10-12).

·        Those who are face to face with God must understand that they are separate and distinct and must live accordingly.  To be face to face with God is to have your back turned against all other gods.  At this point in the story of the Exodus the people of Israel had just committed the atrocity of the golden calf at Mt. Sinai.  That was the problem behind this conversation between God and Moses.  Israel promised to be holy (separated, God’s special people, His treasure) but they did not maintain this distinction.  The first time things got tough (Moses was gone 40 days) they reverted to the idols of Egypt.  

·        The term for distinct or separate (33:16) is used only seven times in the Old Testament.  At the root of the term is the idea of being made wonderful. Three times it speaks of Israel as distinct from Egypt (Ex. 8:22; 9:4; 11:7).  In the plagues on Egypt God made a distinction, He showed favor to His people in protecting them from the plagues.  Because of His grace they were treated as wonderful by God.  Note the other three uses of the term in the Psalms:

o   4:3: The Lord has set apart (made wonderful) for Himself him who is godly.

o   17:7: Show your marvelous (wonderful, distinct) lovingkindnesses by Your right hand.

o   139:14: We are fearfully and wonderfully made.  God’s favor is upon man from creation.

By sin we were separated from God.  By grace we are separated unto God.  May it be evident today in our attitudes, words, actions, purposes, desires.