Exodus 33:12-23
Summary for Exod 33:12-23: 33:12-23 a Moses begged for God to go with him and the people to the Promised Land. In these verses the word personally (33:14-15 b) usually reflects a Hebrew term literally rendered face. Moses wanted to continue experiencing the “face to face” relationship he had begun to have (33:11 c). He also wanted the people to have that experience in some sense. 33:12 d I know you by name: Moses had been appointed by God himself.33:13 e let me know your ways: Moses did not merely want God’s blessings; he wanted to know God’s nature and character, as well as the manner of and reasons for his actions. God’s goal of revealing himself was beginning to be realized, at least in one person.
• Moses wanted God himself to accompany them, because they were the Lord’s own people.
33:14 f I will give you rest: Literally a place to roost, as in a place where a bird can land and be at peace. Ever since Abraham left Ur, he and his descendants had had no such place.
Summary for Exod 33:15-16: 33:15-16 g Moses made his request even more direct. Again he showed his understanding of what God was doing. The Exodus was not merely about getting the Israelites out of Egypt so they could go to Canaan. It was about a personal experience of God that would change how they lived. If that was not possible, then they might just as well have stayed at Sinai. Going on to Canaan would be disastrous without the Lord.
33:17 h The Lord reaffirmed his agreement to go with them and his personal appointment of Moses.
33:18 i Moses asked for confirmation of God’s promises. He asked to see God’s glorious presence (literally glory). He was asking for an experience of seeing the very essence of God (see study note on 16:7).
33:19 j In his positive reply, God subtly changed the terms. He would grant Moses a glorious experience, but he would not show Moses his face. Rather, he would show him his goodness and express his character (my name), marked above all by mercy and compassion (see Rom 9:14-16 k).
• Yahweh: Here God is emphasizing his own personal name.
Summary for Exod 33:20-23: 33:20-23 l God longs to show us his character, but to see his face (his essence) and his glorious presence (33:22 m) would be to die. Moses was permitted a glimpse of that, but nothing more.
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