Exodus 33: The Flight from Egypt

Exodus: Part 33 of 40

1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’

Except those you had slaughtered.

2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

Why?  It’s their land.

3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

Insults and veiled threats?  Lovely.

4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’ “

6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

When do we hear about the Wobbly Necked people?

The Tent of Meeting

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.

8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent.

9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses.

Moses didn’t write any of this. It wasn’t written down at the time. It wasn’t written down by anyone who was there, but it was written after all that were there were dead.  So how did they know all these details?

10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.

11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses and the Glory of the LORD

12 Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’

Not completely true either.  God allowed thousands to be killed.  They certainly were not in favour with him.

13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

Hahahaha, Moses is telling God what to do and reminding him of things said in the past.

14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

Way to go Moses. Argue with the bossman.

16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

God just said he would be going and yet Moses still argues? Smite him God, smite him!

17 And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

Yeah God, let it all hang out.  :)

19 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 will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Proclaim his name?

God, Lord God!

<cue James Bond music>

20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

He’s already seen his face. Go back up to 11 and you’ll see that it says “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” This story never gets any better does it.

21 Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.

It’s a stony desert, there are millions of places to stand on rocks.

22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

Why not just do it invisibly if you are so all powerful?  Why keep being such a drama queen about everything?

23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

Ugly much?

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