Timeline of Moses’ Encounters with God:

• Burning bush encountering the holy God for the first time.
• Confronts Pharaoh, rescues the people of Israel, and sees God rescue them at the Red Sea. God’s tangible presence was constant through the miracles, plagues and the pillar cloud/fire.
• Encounters a more intense moment with God on Mt Sinai in receiving the 10 commandments only to destroy them in anger at the idolatry of Israel.
• God meets with Moses outside the camp.

Moses would encounter God regularly to inquire of Him but as one who visits a friend in a different town. (Exodus 33:7-11)

• A tent of meeting becomes a place of intercession for the people, but when Moses would enter God’s presence would descend upon that tent. (9)
  • People would stand in worship as Moses inquired of the Lord. (8)

• God would speak to Moses “face to face”. (11)
  • An expression of intimacy and friendship.

Moses grows to depend on the presence of the Lord.  (Exodus 33:12-23)

Illustration of the power of presence:  

• God says He will go with Moses (14), but Moses is doubting and cannot go forward without the reassurance of God’s presence. (15) “Show me your glory”

• Moses had become keenly aware that the presence of God near him gave validation to his own leadership. (16)

• Moses boldly asks to see God’s glory for His own reassurance. (18)
  • God offers a glimpse. (22-23)

Being in the presence of God transformed Moses temporarily.  (Exodus 34:29-35)

• Experiencing the presence of God does change a person.

Illustration: coworker who received good news; the face of a happy bride; a person who just had a moment with God that was life altering. 

NT Example:                                                                                                                           

• Stephen while defending the gospel before the Sanhedrin Acts 6:15 “… his face is like that of an angel.”,
• The Disciples’ inexplicable courage Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and Johnand realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

• For Moses this change would fade because He was not constantly in the presence of God.

• To mask the reality of fading radiance a veil was put over Moses’ face. (33)

• He would give instructions while the radiance was brilliant but then cover his face afterwards.
  • Evidence he had been with the Lord.
  • Gave Moses confidence to lead.
  • Gave people confidence to follow.

Can you imagine the fear Moses would have if the presence of God had departed him?

Yet it was evident when he had not been in the presence of the Lord for any length of time as the fading radiance of his face revealed that.

What if it were possible for God’s presence to not be an occasional experience?

Three advantages we have on Moses in walking God.  (2 Corinthians 3:7-18)

1. Ministry of the Spirit brings life whereas the ministry of the law brought condemnation and death. (7, 9) What a glory we now experience!
   • We engage people with the hope of life.
   • Moses had to engage people to follow God for fear of death.

2. We are set free by the work of Christ by the indwelling and constant work of the Spirit. No further atonement needed.
   • Christ by His death pays the price of our rebellion.
   • Receiving this gift of grace we are given the gift of the presence of God through His Spirit.
   • Jesus sent His Spirit so that His dwelling place is not a Tent of Meeting but in the hearts of those who believe. “Jesus calls us His friend.” John 15:15
   • We then can dwell with Him as He dwells with the Father and the Spirit.
   • We now have freedom! (17)

3. We have no need to veil our faces because God’s presence is with us each day transforming us into His likeness. (18)
   • The radiance of His work in our lives is growing not fading as we are transformed into being like Jesus.

Going forward

1. Turn to the Lord where only He can take the veil away. (14b, 16)

2. Abide in the presence of the Lord in His Word, in prayer, and with His people.
   • It is an amazing privilege that Moses did not have—THE FRIEND IS IN THE HOUSE. WE ARE THE TENT.
   • We gain boldness together. (12)

3. Become students of the glory of God to experience the ever increasing glory of our lives being changed day by day.. (18)
   • Contemplating, reflecting upon, or beholding his glory.
   • Going from a reader about tornados to being a storm chaser.
   • Our minds will not become dull but sharpened by the majesty of God’s glory. (14a)