and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. and when My glory passes by,God would reveal His majestic presence to Moses without exposing him to the fullness of divine glory, which no mortal could endure. The Lord’s glory later filled the tabernacle and temple, marking His dwelling among Israel (Exodus 40:34–35; 1 Kings 8:10–11). Moses received an extraordinary revelation of God’s goodness, name, mercy, and sovereignty in response to his request to see God’s glory. Exo 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting,… I will put you in a cleft of the rock God Himself provided the place of refuge on Mount Sinai. The rock sheltered Moses from the overwhelming holiness of the divine visitation and displayed that access to God depends upon His protection and grace. Scripture frequently portrays the Lord as the Rock and refuge of His people (Psalm 18:2), pointing believers to Christ, the sure refuge and spiritual Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). Sng 2:14 O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices… and cover you with My hand God guarded Moses personally during the revelation. The language communicates divine power, care, and condescension without suggesting that God possesses a physical body. Moses could know God truly, yet only as God chose to make Himself known. God’s covering anticipates the mercy by which sinful people may stand before Him through the atoning work of Christ. Isa 51:16 I have put My words in your mouth, and covered you…… until I have passed by. The Lord’s passing by gave Moses a real, though limited, encounter with His presence. Elijah later experienced a similar divine visitation at Horeb, where the Lord made Himself known after wind, earthquake, and fire (1 Kings 19:11–13). God’s partial self-disclosure to Moses prepared the way for the fuller revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). 1Ki 19:11-13 Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this passage, Moses is seeking a deeper understanding and experience of God's presence. 2. God (Yahweh) The one true God, revealing His glory to Moses in a unique and protective manner. 3. Cleft of the Rock A specific place where God places Moses to protect him from the full intensity of His glory. This symbolizes God's protection and provision. 4. Mount Sinai The location where Moses meets with God and receives the Law. It is a place of divine revelation and covenant. 5. The Glory of God Represents God's presence, holiness, and majesty. It is so powerful that it requires divine protection for Moses to experience it. Teaching Points God's Glory and HolinessGod's glory is overwhelming and holy. We must approach Him with reverence and awe, recognizing our need for His protection and grace. Divine Protection Just as God protected Moses, He provides protection for us. We can trust Him to shield us from what we cannot bear on our own. Seeking God's Presence Like Moses, we should earnestly seek to know God more deeply. This involves spending time in prayer, worship, and the study of His Word. Transformation through Encounter Encounters with God's presence lead to transformation. As we behold His glory, we are changed into His likeness. Christ as the Fulfillment Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God's glory. In Him, we see the fullness of God and experience His grace and truth. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of God's glory in Exodus 33:22 shape our understanding of His holiness and majesty?2. In what ways can we seek to experience God's presence in our daily lives, similar to Moses' encounter on Mount Sinai? 3. How does the protection God provided to Moses in the cleft of the rock relate to the protection He offers us today? 4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure that our encounters with God lead to transformation in our lives? 5. How does the revelation of God's glory in the Old Testament connect to the revelation of Jesus Christ in the New Testament? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 34:5-7This passage describes God proclaiming His name and attributes to Moses, further revealing His character. 1 Kings 19:11-13 Elijah experiences God's presence in a gentle whisper, showing that God's presence can manifest in various ways. John 1:14 The Word became flesh, and we have seen His glory, connecting the revelation of God's glory in the Old Testament to the incarnation of Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:18 Believers are transformed by beholding the glory of the Lord, indicating the ongoing revelation and transformation through Christ. Psalm 91:1-2 Speaks of God's protection, similar to how He protected Moses in the cleft of the rock.
People Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Hivite, Hivites, Isaac, Jacob, Jebusites, Joshua, Moses, Nun, PerizzitesPlaces Mount Horeb, SinaiTopics Cleft, Cover, Covering, Glory, Goes, Hands, Hole, Honour, Pass, Passed, Passes, Passeth, Passing, Past, Rock, Spread, TillDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 33:12-23 1255 face of God 1265 hand of God Library The Mediator's Threefold Prayer'And Moses said unto the Lord, See, Thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and Thou hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me. Yet Thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in My sight. 13. Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people. 14. And He said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15. And he … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture June the Seventeenth the Invisible Presence Election no Discouragement to Seeking Souls A view of God's Glory Of the Way to Attain Divine Union After the Preceding Ways, There Remains an after Way, Preparatory to Divine Union, in which Wisdom and Justice Make the Passive Purification of the Soul, All Let us Now Examine the Conditions under which a Revelation May be Expected To... Whence Also the Just of Old, Before the Incarnation of the Word... Ninteenth Lesson. I Go unto the Father!' The Blessed Privilege of Seeing God Explained Moses the Type of Christ. The Wonderful. Appendix viii. Rabbinic Traditions About Elijah, the Forerunner of the Messiah Epistle xxviii. To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli . The Personality of Power. An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh The Great Commission Given. Covenanting a Privilege of Believers. The Winsome Jesus. The Angel of the Lord in the Pentateuch, and the Book of Joshua. Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him. The Mercy of God Links Exodus 33:22 NIVExodus 33:22 NLT Exodus 33:22 ESV Exodus 33:22 NASB Exodus 33:22 KJV Exodus 33:22 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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