How does Exodus 33:23 connect with John 1:18 about seeing God? Setting the Scene in Exodus Moses longed for a clearer vision of God’s glory. The Lord answered: “Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.” (Exodus 33:23) Divine Protection: Why Only the Back? • God’s unveiled face would overwhelm mortal flesh—“You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live.” (Exodus 33:20) • The “back” glimpse was a merciful accommodation, granting Moses assurance of God’s presence yet sparing his life. • This brief view highlighted God’s transcendence: He is both near and unapproachable in His full splendor (1 Timothy 6:16). John’s Claim: A New Revelation Through the Son “No one has ever seen God; but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.” (John 1:18) Key observations • John affirms the same truth Exodus teaches—humanity cannot behold God’s essence directly. • The eternal Son, sharing the Father’s nature, uniquely “explains” or “reveals” Him. • The incarnation provides the clearest, yet still graciously veiled, disclosure of God’s character (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:15; John 14:9). Harmonizing the Two Passages • Exodus 33 shows a partial, rearward glimpse; John 1 points to a fuller, frontal revelation in Christ. • Both texts protect God’s holiness while highlighting His desire to be known. • The progression runs: – Glimpse of glory (Exodus 33:23) – Prophetic anticipation (Deuteronomy 18:15) – Incarnate revelation (John 1:14,18) • Thus, there is no contradiction—only a movement from shadow to substance. Practical Takeaways for Today • Approach God’s majesty with reverent awe; His holiness remains undiminished. • Rejoice that in Jesus, the invisible God becomes personally knowable. • Let Christ’s life and words shape your understanding of the Father’s heart (John 14:9). |
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