INTERVARSITY PRESS DAILY BIBLE STUDY—Lesson 20

Exodus 33: God's Presence and Glory

I remember taking my son to school the first time. I dragged him all the way. My presence was not enough to enable him to face this terrible prospect. The command to go was clear, but that wasn't enough for him. In the same way God commanded Israel to go to the good land he had promised to give them. God's leader asked for God's presence before he would move out. In this study we see more of God's loving patience with Moses and Israel and how this speaks to our own basic spiritual goals.

Warming Up to God

Sit quietly and imagine you are a glass of water, full of words, thoughts, ideas and sins that distract. Pour yourself out in front of the Lord and let the Spirit refill you with his good, refreshing water.

Discovering the Word

  1. What commands, promises and warnings did God give Israel?
  2. What occurred at the tent of meeting and why?
  3. What do these verses reveal about Moses' relationship with God and the effect it had on others?
  4. Look at the development of Moses' requests (vv. 13, 15, 18). How do they increase in spiritual wisdom and depth and reveal Moses' deepest desire?
  5. In God's answer to Moses (vv. 19-23), what do you learn about his nature and character?

Applying the Word

  1. Moses could not see God's face. What is our privilege and responsibility in light of John 14:8-14 and Hebrews 1:1-4?
  2. In what ways do you demonstrate a desire to know God and to see his glory?

Responding in Prayer

Thank the Father for showing you his glory incarnate in his son, Jesus Christ.

2016-2017 Tulsa Bible Church Men’s Bible Study – tulsabible.org

For further consideration:

ID: Inductive Questions (Asking the text questions like who, what, where, when, why, & how?”)

CR: Cross References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture, understanding the vague by the clear.)

WS: Word Study (Understanding definition, theological meaning, and usages in other passages.)

0 ID(33:1) “Then the Lord said to Moses…” What had just happened when God spoke to Moses? Where was Moses?

2b.WS (33:3, 5) What does it mean to be “stiff-necked?” See other occurrences of the word for more context. (Exodus 32:9; 34:9; Deuteronomy 9:6, 13; 10:16; 2 Chronicles 30:8; Acts 7:51) How can you tell if you are being stiff-necked?

3b. (33:11) Speaking face to face is an idiom suggesting an honest and open relationship. It does not contradict 33:20–23. Numbers 12:8 uses a different expression with the same meaning, “mouth to mouth.”[1]
Could that expression be used of your relationship with God? Why?

3c. ID (33:17) What do you think is means when God told Moses “I know you by name”?

5b. WS (33:19) What is God’s goodness? What is the significance of God highlighting His goodnesswhen Moses asked to see His glory? Also see Exodus 34:6-7.

5c. CR (33:19) What insight does Romans 9:14-18 give us about the meaning of the phrase that is used here, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion* on whom I will have compassion.” *or mercy

More on the Goodness of God:

"The Goodness of God" by Arthur W. Pink

"The Goodness of God", a message by Bob Deffinbaugh based largely on Psalm 73

God’s Attributes: Good, a compulation of Precept Austin resources and thoughts about God’s goodness.

[1] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Ex 33:11.