God’s Glory Revealed
Exodus 33:12-23
INTRODUCTION
This passage of Scripture is one of the most amazing encounters with God in all of the Bible. God reveals His glory to Moses in an unprecedented way. But if we are going to really understand this passage we need to look at what preceded it.
In chapter 32, we see the failure of the people of Israel to live up to their covenantal commitment to God. While Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Law from God, the people got impatient. They convince Aaron to make them a golden calf, which they set up as their new god. At the very height of their raucous celebration of this new god, Moses comes down the mountain and confronts the people.
The people have broken their promise to God and Moses has to go back to God and plead for them. God accepts Moses intercession, but still punishes the people with a plague. God tells Moses to lead the people on to the Promised Land, but that He will not go with them. All of the people then went into mourning before God.
At this point, Moses goes back up on the mountain to reason with God. What is important to see in this episode is that God is re-establishing His covenant with the people of Israel. They had broken the covenant, and God had every right to abandon them. Instead, Moses pleads with God to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Throughout this entire event, Moses stands between God and the people. He is God’s spokesman to the people and the people’s advocate before God. Moses is a foreshadow of Christ; standing in the gap between a Holy God and a sinful world.
Study 1: Exodus 33:12-17
In this section, we get to eavesdrop on an intimate conversation between Moses and God. Moses was taking the risk to stand up for the people of Israel, even though they were a rebellious and sinful people.
1. In verses 12-13, Moses begins to lay out his case before God.
a. What question does Moses pose to God?
b. How does Moses draw on his relationship with God?
c. What does Moses ask of God?
d. What is the significance of Moses’ statement; “Remember that this nation is your people.”
2. In verse 14, God gives Moses a cryptic answer to his inquiry. It is very important to note that the “you” in this verse is singular.
a. What does God promise to give to Moses?
b. What is implied by the use of the singular “you”?
3. Moses fully understands what God is saying, and he does not like it.
a. How does Moses counter the singular “you” of verse 14?
b. What argument does Moses use to try to persuade God to change His mind?
4. How does God respond to Moses? On what basis is God acting? How does God continue to imply His displeasure with Israel?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.Reflect upon Moses’ boldness before God. If you were in a similar position as Moses, would you be as bold? Why or why not?
2. What does this event tells us about the depth of Moses’ relationship with God?
3.How would you measure the depth of your relationship with God against that of Moses?
4. Why was it so important to Moses that God not abandon the people of Israel?
5. Over the centuries, the Church has often failed God. What does it say about God that He has never abandoned the Church?
Study 2: Exodus 33:18-23
At this point, Moses takes another amazingly bold step. He asks God to show him His glory!
1. In light of the preceding verses, what might be Moses’ reason for asking to see God’s glory?
2. In a sense, Moses has already seen God’s glory in the pillar of cloud and fire. What makes this new request different?
3. How does God respond to Moses request?
4. What does it mean for God to proclaim His name in Moses’ presence?
5. What does God make clear to Moses about who He is?
6. What restrictions does God place on this amazing encounter?
7. Exodus 34:1-9 tells what happens next. What is the outcome of this encounter with God?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.What would it be like for you to actually see the glory of God? Reflect upon Isaiah 6:1-5.
2. What would keep you from genuinely asking to see God’s glory?
3. Why does the holiness of God prohibit us from experiencing the full glory of God?
4. What should always be our attitude when we approach God? Look at Proverbs 3:34, James 4:4-10.
5. In what ways does God reveal His glory to us today?
6. What should always be our response to encountering God’s glory?
Study 3: Exodus 34:29-35
Throughout Exodus, God stated over and over that Moses was His chosen servant to represent Him before Israel and the world. In this passage, we see one more way that God set Moses apart from the rest of the people.
1. What is the significance of the fact that Moses came down the mountain with a second set of stone tablets to replace the first set he had smashed?
2. What was different about Moses when he came down from the mountain? What was the reason for this difference?
3.How did the people respond to this “new” Moses?
4. Moses had to encourage the people to come to him.
a. Who were the first to come? Why was that important?
b. After the people came, what did Moses do?
5. What did Moses do after he had finished speaking with the people? Why did he do this?
6. What was the significance of the radiance of Moses’ face for the people?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.What does this episode in the life of Israel tell us about God’s grace and mercy?
2. What, if anything, frightens you about people who seem to be very close to God?
3. God wanted the people of Israel to respect Moses. Why is it important that we respect those who God has chosen to lead His people today?
4. What is the primary role of those who God has chosen to lead His people today? Look at Ephesians 4:11-13.
5. What are some tangible ways that you can reflect God’s glory into your world?
Study 4:2 Corinthians 3:7-18
In this passage, Paul refers directly to the incidents recorded in Exodus 32-34. But instead of setting them up as an example to follow, he sets them up as a contrast to the new covenant relationship that we have in Christ.
1. Paul contrasts the ministry of Moses with the ministry of the Spirit.
a. How does Paul describe the ministry of Moses?
b. In what way is his description true?
c. How does he contrast the ministry of the Spirit?
d. What are the two “glories” that Paul is referring to?
2. What should be the result of experiencing the glory of the Spirit?
3. Paul refers to the experience of Moses.
a. Why did Moses put a veil over his face?
b. In what ways does the Old Covenant keep the veil over people’s hearts?
c. What is it that can remove the veil?
4. What is the outcome of living in the Spirit?
5. How is our new glory in Christ, different from the old glory of Moses?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.When Paul refers to the ministry of Moses, he is referring to the Law.
a. How does the Law veil the grace of God in our lives?
b. In what ways dose the Law lead to death?
2. How has Jesus lifted the veil of the Law from us? Look at Romans 8:1-4.
3. How is the glory of Christ far superior to the glory of the Law?
4. What is the hope that Paul mentions in verse 12? How do you experience that hope?
5. What does it mean for you to reflect the Lord’s glory?
6. In what ways are you being transformed into the likeness of Christ?
7. What is the source of the glory that we get to experience and reflect?
-1-