Chapter 33

1 The Lord refuseth to go as he had promised with the people. 4 The people murmur thereat. 7 The tabernacle is removed out of the camp. 9 The Lord talketh familiarly with Moses. 12 Moses desireth to see the glory of God.

1. Depart. This reaffirms what the Lord told Moses in ch. 32:34, after Moses’ plea that God would forgive the people’s sin in making the golden calf. God would remain true to the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Gen. 12:7; 26:3; 28:13).

3. Unto a land. This continues the thought of v. 1, v. 2 being parenthetical. In love God tells Israel it is best that He not go with them. Should they again violate His covenant, His direct presence would mean their complete destruction. There are times when God in mercy withdraws from us. He never forces Himself upon us (Matt. 13:53–58).

4. They mourned. The Israelites began to realize what separation from the Lord meant. “An angel” seemed not to promise the assurance that God Himself could give. There was deep sorrow for their transgression. Repentance is an indispensable condition for restoration to divine favor, for there can be no salvation without it (Luke 13:5; Acts 3:19; Rev. 2:5, 16). In penitence and humiliation the people “put off” their “ornaments.” The removal of ornaments implies mourning and reformation (Gen. 35:4; Eze. 26:16). The men were probably wearing armlets, bracelets, and anklets. The latter were worn by men in Egypt.

5. I will come up. In response to Israel’s apparent repentance God assured them that they would not be utterly forsaken. His seeming reluctance to accept their change of heart was due to the fact that repentance had not as yet gone deep enough (see Hosea 6:4; 7:8, 14–16). By delay it was God’s purpose to create in their hearts a deeper longing for fellowship with Him (see Joel 2:12, 13; Hosea 10:12; DA 200).

6. By the mount Horeb. Literally, “from the mount Horeb.” Or, “from Mount Horeb onward” (RSV). This implies that the Israelites discontinued the use of ornaments, for a time at least, in token of their sincere purpose to obey God.

7. Took the tabernacle. This was a tent used temporarily, until completion of the more permanent “tent of meeting” (PP 327). Moses could not always be ascending Mt. Sinai to meet with God, for the camp needed his superintending care, especially at this time. The fact that the tent was moved “afar off from the camp” symbolized the removal of God’s presence from the people, because of their iniquity.

Tabernacle of the congregation. Preferably, “the tent of meeting.” Here those who desired to return to the Lord could come in true repentance, confessing their sins and seeking God’s mercy.

8. When Moses went out. In fear and trembling the Israelites centered their attention upon the tent of meeting to see whether God would receive their representative and grant them a sign of reinstatement to His favor. The very fact that the withdrawal of God’s presence was so keenly felt by the people gave promise of genuine repentance.

9. The cloudy pillar. This sign, now familiar to the people, was evidence to them that the Lord would continue to be their guide and protector (ch. 13:21, 22).

12. See, thou sayest. Verses 12 and 13 are an example of the intimate way in which Moses talked with God (Num. 12:8). Friendship with God gives men boldness in approaching Him, for true friendship casts out fear (Heb. 4:15, 16; 1 John 4:18). Moses earnestly desired full information as to what the Lord intended to do with His people, and who would be appointed to lead them. Moses felt the Lord would surely reveal this if, as He had said, Moses now “found grace” in His sight. Moses reminded God that “this nation is thy people,” so implying God’s responsibility toward them.

14. My presence. The request of Moses is granted. God’s own presence would go with them, and also give them “rest,” that is, possession of the land of Canaan (Deut. 3:20; 12:9, 10; 25:19; Heb. 4:8).

15. If thy presence. Moses was not yet satisfied. God had said, literally, “I will give rest to thee” (singular), which seemed to confine the blessing only to Moses. With this Moses was not content; the promise must also embrace “thy people.”

16. Be separated. That is, distinct from all other nations. God’s presence was with them, and they were His people (ch. 19:5, 6).

17. I will do this thing. God agreed to Moses’ plea. Moses’ “effectual fervent prayer” had availed “much” (James 5:16). He did not “faint,” and his petition was granted (Luke 18:1). Importunate prayers, especially those on behalf of others, are a demonstration of faith. Such were those of Abraham for Sodom (Gen. 18:23–33), Daniel for his people (Dan. 9:4–19), and Christ for His disciples (John 17).

I know thee by name. Moses was a personal friend of God. In Oriental lands even more than in the West, personal acquaintance serves to open doors that would otherwise remain closed.

18. Shew me thy glory. Though God had graciously answered his prayers in behalf of Israel, Moses longed for further evidence of divine favor. He had already been in the very presence of God on repeated occasions, but a solemn realization of the task that was his made him feel the need of an even closer fellowship with God. This led to a request that no man had made hitherto, something Moses felt would be a strength to him in his appointed task. He had asked much for his people; it was not inappropriate that he should now ask for himself assurance that his labors would meet with success. He knew well that no earthly power could take the place of God’s abiding presence and of the knowledge that comes from personal fellowship with Him (Jer. 9:23, 24).

Too often it is a guilty conscience that makes us shrink from the presence of the Lord of life. So it was with our first parents when they “hid themselves” (Gen. 3:8). It was because the life of Moses was in harmony with the will of his Maker that he stood in the presence of the Lord and was not afraid. The more a man knows of God, the more he longs to know. In the divine presence there is “fullness of joy,” and at His “right hand” there are “pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16:11).

19. I will make. What may appear to have been presumption was not so in the case of Moses. Mutual love and respect drew both Creator and creature together.

My goodness. Literally, “my beauty” or “my excellence.” The LXX has “my glory.”

20. Thou canst not see. If at the appearance of one angel the Roman soldiers at the tomb of the risen Christ “became as dead men” (Matt. 28:4), what might be expected when sinful man is ushered into the very presence of God? Jacob marveled when he saw God “face to face” and yet lived (Gen. 32:30).

21. There is a place. Traditions as to the exact location of this place are without value. The event must have occurred somewhere on the upper part of the mountain.

22. Cover thee. The various precautions here mentioned were for the purpose of protecting Moses. Man has never seen the Lord’s face (John 1:18; 6:46; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 John 4:12). There is no lack of harmony between these texts, which state that no man has seen God’s face, and the many texts that tell us that God walked among men in the person of Jesus Christ and was seen by multitudes (see 1 John 1:1–3; 1 Tim. 3:16; etc.). In the first group of texts the Bible writers are speaking of God in His undimmed Glory; in the second, of God as “manifest in the flesh,” and thus with His glory hidden. Chapter 33 opens with man disheartened and depressed by virtue of being distant from God, and ends with man assured and strengthened by being drawn close to the divine presence.

Ellen G. White comments

1-23PP 327-328

3-10PP 327

11   CT 408; EW 162; FE 343; SR 167, 174, 206, TM 405

11, 12  PP 327

13   DA 331; 4T 532

14   DA 331, 641; GW 417; ML 288; PK 312; PP 328; 4T 532; 7T 221

15   TM 499

15, 16  PP 328; 4T 532

16   IT 283

17   PP 328; 4T 532

18   GW 417; MH 464, 508; PP 328; TM 499; 4T 532; 5T 652; 8T 321

18, 19  COL 285; SC 10; 6T 221

19   CT 30; FE 178; MH 464, 508; PP 328; 4T 533; 5T 652; 8T 322, 335

20   PP 67

20-23PP 328

21, 22  4T 533

22   AA 363; MB 44; MH 508; 6T 47; 7T 154

22, 23  EW 162