Why did Moses remove the veil when speaking with the LORD in Exodus 34:34? Setting the Scene “Whenever Moses went before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out; and when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded.” (Exodus 34:34) The Veil’s Everyday Purpose • Moses’ face radiated God’s glory after each meeting on the mountain (Exodus 34:29). • The brightness unnerved the Israelites, so Moses covered his face to spare them (Exodus 34:30–33). • The veil was therefore for the people’s benefit, not for God’s. Why Moses Uncovered Before the LORD • Unhindered fellowship – God invited Moses to speak “face to face, as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11). Nothing—even a cloth—was to stand between them. • Reverence and honesty – Approaching God required complete openness; hiding would contradict the transparent relationship the LORD initiated (Psalm 62:8). • Fresh impartation – Each encounter renewed the radiance. Removing the veil allowed the glory to be received and intensified (cf. Isaiah 60:1). • Divine initiative – The text presents the act as normal protocol set by God, underscoring His desire for direct access. Scripture Echoes • Israel needed a mediator with a veiled face; the mediator himself needed no veil with God—a pattern fulfilled when Christ tears the temple veil for us (Matthew 27:51; Hebrews 10:19-22). • Paul draws the application: “Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18). Moses’ uncovered face prefigures the believer’s unveiled heart in Christ. Takeaways for Today • God calls His people to approach Him without concealment, assured that Christ’s sacrifice grants the same bold access Moses enjoyed. • Spiritual radiance flows from time spent unveiled before the LORD; it diminishes when we turn our focus back to ourselves. • Ministry to others may require “veils” of patience and accommodation, yet communion with God never does—He still invites us to come just as we are. |
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