What does "set My face against them" reveal about God's stance on sin?

Locating the Phrase in Scripture

Leviticus 20:3: “I will set My face against that man and cut him off from among his people, because he has given some of his descendants to Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary and profane My holy name.”

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What “set My face against” Signifies

• A direct, deliberate act—God is not indifferent; He turns toward the sinner in opposition.

• A legal stance—similar to a judge pronouncing sentence.

• A relational rupture—once fellowship, now confrontation.

• A covenant warning—violation brings covenant-enforced consequences.

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God’s Holiness on Display

• His holiness is non-negotiable (Leviticus 11:44).

• Sin offends His very nature; therefore He must confront it (Habakkuk 1:13).

• The phrase shows sin is never merely “mistake” but moral rebellion.

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Sin as Personal Offense

• “My face” makes the issue personal; sin is against God Himself (Psalm 51:4).

• Turning His face in judgment contrasts with shining His face in blessing (Numbers 6:25-26).

• The sinner stands before an offended yet righteous Person, not an abstract law.

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Consequences That Follow

• Immediate separation—“cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 20:3).

• Progressive hardness—Ezekiel 14:8 shows God sets His face “for a sign and a proverb.”

• Ultimate judgment—Jeremiah 21:10: “I have set My face against this city for harm.”

• Universal principle—1 Peter 3:12: “the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

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Hope Beyond the Confrontation

• The same God who opposes sin offers mercy when we forsake it (Isaiah 55:7).

• Repentance invites God to “turn His face” toward the repentant (2 Chronicles 7:14).

• In Christ, God’s face once set against sin is turned toward believers in favor (2 Corinthians 4:6).

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Takeaway for Today

• God’s stance on sin is active, personal, and holy opposition.

• Sin brings real, tangible consequences—spiritual, communal, eternal.

• The phrase calls us to serious, immediate repentance and to cherish the gracious gift of restored fellowship through Christ.