Exodus 34:29-35
“And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.” (Exodus 34:29)
Some have speculated that Moses’ face looked sunburned. The description of Jesus appearance when he was transfigured in Matthew 17:2 makes it sound more like what artists have tried to depict. “and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.” Moses had absorbed so much of God’s glory in just the little glimpse he got of God that his face shone. II Corinthians 3:18 tells us that the same thing will happen to Christians who take the time to get to know Christ. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Moses was not even aware of the difference in himself. He didn’t feel any different, but everyone who saw him was aware of a difference. In Judges 16:20, Samson didn’t notice any difference either. “And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.” Clearly the feeling has nothing to do with real spiritual power. While feelings often accompany spiritual events, they are only side effects, and not spiritual themselves. Satan often convinces people that the feelings are spiritual reality, and like the drug addict, they spend their time seeking another emotional high. They experience the same extreme emotional swings as the drug addict because the only real difference is what they use to produce the high.
“And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” (Exodus 34:30)
Unspiritual people are very aware of the difference between themselves and the spiritual person, and tend to avoid close association. Luke 6:22-23 tells us, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 21:17 warns, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name`s sake.” People instinctively fear and hate things they don‘t understand.
“And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” (Exodus 34:31-35)
When my son was born, most of the people he came in contact with wore glasses, and he would not allow anyone who didn’t have glasses to hold him for several months. Even his grandparents would have to put on reading glasses before he would go to them. Of course, they had to take them off to do other things. Moses had to cover his face to hide the difference in order for the people to focus on what he was saying.
II Corinthians 3:5-18 describes our efforts to reach the world around us as somewhat like Moses’ attempt to share God’s commands with Israel. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Despite our best efforts, our message is not understood until people choose to believe it. I Corinthians 2:13-14 tells us human words and wisdom are incapable of communicating the message. “Which things also we speak, not in words which man`s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]. Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Our efforts to dumb it down only add to the confusion. When they are ready and willing to believe, the Holy Spirit will make them able to understand because “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” according to II Peter 3:9.
“And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.” (Exodus 34:29)
Some have speculated that Moses’ face looked sunburned. The description of Jesus appearance when he was transfigured in Matthew 17:2 makes it sound more like what artists have tried to depict. “and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.” Moses had absorbed so much of God’s glory in just the little glimpse he got of God that his face shone. II Corinthians 3:18 tells us that the same thing will happen to Christians who take the time to get to know Christ. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Moses was not even aware of the difference in himself. He didn’t feel any different, but everyone who saw him was aware of a difference. In Judges 16:20, Samson didn’t notice any difference either. “And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.” Clearly the feeling has nothing to do with real spiritual power. While feelings often accompany spiritual events, they are only side effects, and not spiritual themselves. Satan often convinces people that the feelings are spiritual reality, and like the drug addict, they spend their time seeking another emotional high. They experience the same extreme emotional swings as the drug addict because the only real difference is what they use to produce the high.
“And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.” (Exodus 34:30)
Unspiritual people are very aware of the difference between themselves and the spiritual person, and tend to avoid close association. Luke 6:22-23 tells us, “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 21:17 warns, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name`s sake.” People instinctively fear and hate things they don‘t understand.
“And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” (Exodus 34:31-35)
When my son was born, most of the people he came in contact with wore glasses, and he would not allow anyone who didn’t have glasses to hold him for several months. Even his grandparents would have to put on reading glasses before he would go to them. Of course, they had to take them off to do other things. Moses had to cover his face to hide the difference in order for the people to focus on what he was saying.
II Corinthians 3:5-18 describes our efforts to reach the world around us as somewhat like Moses’ attempt to share God’s commands with Israel. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
God made the lawgiver glorious, just as His glory made Israel glorious, Ezekiel 16:14. I also quite like how the glory that shone over Moses' face repelled his brethren, but when Jesus came down from the mountain the crowd was amazed and ran to Him, rather than away, Mark 9:15. Is this also likening the difference between the Law and grace?
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, good post; I can't believe you're almost finished with Exodus!
In answer to your question, I suspect thsat those who have an interest in God will be attracted while those who are rebellious will be repelled, even in our day. I plan to go into Numbers next, to maintain continuity of the story.
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