How does Ezekiel 11:23 connect with God's holiness in Exodus 33:18-23? Setting the Scene in Exodus • Exodus 33:18-23 records Moses’ plea: “Show me Your glory.” • The LORD answers by placing Moses in a cleft of the rock, covering him with His hand, and allowing Moses to see His back after He passes by. • Key emphasis: God’s holiness is so radiant that direct, face-to-face exposure would consume fallen humanity; therefore, gracious concealment is required (cf. Exodus 33:20, Isaiah 6:5). • The passage ties holiness and glory together—God’s moral perfection is inseparable from the brilliance of His presence. Setting the Scene in Ezekiel • Ezekiel 11:23: “And the glory of the LORD went up from within the city and stood over the mountain east of the city.” • Context: Judah’s persistent sin defiled the temple (Ezekiel 8–11). Because God is holy, His glory literally, visibly departs. • The mountain east of Jerusalem is the Mount of Olives—God’s glory pauses there, illustrating reluctance yet resolve in judging sin. Shared Thread: The Glory That Reveals Holiness • In both accounts the “glory of the LORD” (Hebrew : kāḇôḏ) is the tangible expression of divine holiness. • Exodus shows holiness drawing near but shielded; Ezekiel shows holiness withdrawing because sin persists. • God’s glory interacts with mountains in each text—Sinai in Exodus, the Mount of Olives in Ezekiel—underscoring transcendence and authority (Psalm 99:1-3). Consequences of Divine Holiness • Holiness attracts the humble (Moses) yet repels the rebellious (Jerusalem’s leaders). • Exodus 33:19 emphasizes mercy and compassion within holiness; Ezekiel 11:21 highlights judgment upon hearts that chase detestable things. • Both passages uphold Leviticus 10:3: “Among those who approach Me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.” Grace Seen Within Holiness • Even as the glory departs in Ezekiel, God promises restoration (Ezekiel 11:17-20). • The same God who shielded Moses extends future hope: a new heart and Spirit, enabling people to “walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 11:19-20; cf. Jeremiah 31:33). • John 1:14–18 echoes Exodus 33:18-23—Christ embodies the glory Moses could only glimpse, providing the righteousness Ezekiel’s generation lacked (2 Corinthians 3:18). Implications for Believers Today • God’s holiness is unchanging; He still dwells in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). • Through Christ’s atonement, believers have access without the terror of judgment (Hebrews 10:19-22). • Reverence remains essential: “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us offer God acceptable worship with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28-29). |
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