The Vision of Moses of the Glory of God is a profound event in biblical history, encapsulating the intimate encounter between Moses and the divine presence of God. This vision is primarily recorded in the Book of Exodus, where Moses, the leader and prophet of Israel, is granted a unique revelation of God's glory.

Biblical Context

The vision occurs after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and during their sojourn in the wilderness. Moses ascends Mount Sinai to receive the Law from God, a pivotal moment in the establishment of the covenant between God and His chosen people. It is during this time that Moses seeks a deeper understanding and revelation of God's nature.

Scriptural Account

In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses boldly requests to see God's glory: "Then Moses said, 'Please show me Your glory.' And the LORD said, 'I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' But He added, 'You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.' The LORD continued, 'There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, 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. Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.'"

Theological Significance

This vision underscores the holiness and transcendence of God. The divine proclamation of His name and attributes—mercy and compassion—reveals God's character and His sovereign will in dispensing grace. The encounter emphasizes the limitations of human understanding and the necessity of divine mediation, as Moses is shielded by God's hand, illustrating the protective and gracious nature of God.

Symbolism and Interpretation

The cleft of the rock symbolizes a place of refuge and safety, pointing to the necessity of divine protection when approaching the holiness of God. The vision also prefigures the ultimate revelation of God's glory in the person of Jesus Christ, who, according to Christian theology, is the full manifestation of God's presence and character.

Impact on Moses and Israel

Following this encounter, Moses' face shines with the reflected glory of God, as described in Exodus 34:29-35. This radiance signifies the transformative power of God's presence and serves as a testament to the Israelites of Moses' unique role as mediator between God and His people. The vision reinforces Moses' authority and the divine origin of the Law he delivers.

Legacy in Christian Thought

The Vision of Moses of the Glory of God has been a source of inspiration and reflection throughout Christian history. It highlights the themes of divine revelation, the holiness of God, and the transformative impact of encountering His presence. This event is often seen as a foreshadowing of the New Covenant, where believers are invited to behold the glory of God through the life and work of Jesus Christ, as articulated in 2 Corinthians 3:18: "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

In summary, the Vision of Moses of the Glory of God is a foundational narrative that reveals the character of God, the nature of divine revelation, and the transformative power of His presence, serving as a cornerstone for understanding the relationship between God and humanity in the biblical tradition.Exodus 24:9-11
Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 33:18-23
And he said, I beseech you, show me your glory.
Nave's Topical Index

God Proclaiming his Own Name
... and of Moses' intercession, followed by the high request of Moses, so strange and
yet so natural at such a time, for the vision of God's 'glory.' Into all the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/god proclaiming his own name.htm

The Same Conclusion Supported by the Transfiguration Marcion ...
... for Marcion's information the fact that Moses and Elias had a share in even the
glory of Christ. ... entire structure [4363] of this same vision in Habakkuk ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxii the same conclusion supported.htm

God's Spokesman.
... Isaac has a night-vision and Jacob a dream and a ... first forty days on the mount when
Moses hungrily asks ... man could endure the sight of that great glory of God's ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/gods spokesman.htm

"The Glory of that Light. "
... They are wholly absorbed in Him, this Moses, and Elijah, and ... Then the vision is shut
out by the intervening cloud ... For Peter's sake, the glory is hidden that the ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the glory of that light.htm

The Sixth vision "In Heaven"
... at this particular juncture in this Sixth Vision in heaven ... Holiest) was filled with
smoke from the glory of God ... When the Tabernacle was opened by Moses and the ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the sixth vision in heaven.htm

Relation of Moses and Elijah to Jesus. The Injunction of Silence.
... to the bare meaning of the letter, Moses and Elijah, having appeared in glory and
talked ... Jesus commanded the disciples saying, "Tell the vision to no man ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/43 relation of moses and.htm

The Blessed Privilege of Seeing God Explained
... Thus Moses saw him who was invisible (Hebrews 11:27). Believers see God's glory
as it were veiled over. ... This divines call the beatifical vision'. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/17 the blessed privilege of.htm

Moses the Type of Christ.
... will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will ... still more expressly, "The
Lord spake unto Moses face to ... when he came down, his face shone with glory. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon ix moses the type.htm

Introductory.
... of the great reality"God manifest in the flesh"of which the vision of Moses was
but ... wants of man, who is created in the image and for the glory of God. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/schaff/the person of christ/introductory.htm

Whether Moses was the Greatest of the Prophets?
... of whom it is written (Ecclus.48:4,5): "Who can glory like to ... Reply to Objection
1: The prophecy of David approaches near to the vision of Moses, as regards ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether moses was the greatest.htm

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