Week 44, Day 4: Face to Face

Today’s Reading:  Exodus 33:1-23

Some thoughts from the reading..

After the golden calf, there is a discourse between God and Moses about whether or not God will continue His presence among Israel as they journey on.  God says that He might destroy them (vs. 3).  These obstinate people might go on further to incite God’s wrath and He would destroy them.  Moses pleads with God to continue on with them.  The text tells us that Moses would speak face to face with God (vs. 11).  I believe this phrase refers to the close relationship that Moses had with God.  Verse 12 tells us that Moses had found favor in God’s sight and verse 11 mentions that God would speak to Moses “just as a man speaks to his friend”.  Moses never saw the face of God since we are told to do so would result in death (verse 20).  Speaking “face to face” with God is a phrase that relates the manner in which they communicated.  God did not speak to Moses through sending a prophet, angels or through visions.  Rather Moses could go to the tent of meeting and God would meet him there to discuss things.  Thus they had dialogue between one another.  Quite amazing.  When you consider the how special this kind of relationship is, it should impress us.  I cannot think of another person with whom God had such open communication with.  Very interesting to consider. 

Question:  What was it about Moses that made him find favor in God’s sight?