The Turning

Exodus 33

This chapter shows how God can both judge and forgive. The sense of judgment I get here looks ahead to the New Testament in that ths simple fact of God’s holy presence with a stubborn people is just too great a difference for the people to tolerate (compare the interplay of light and darkness in John 1 and 3). It’s almost like the effect of matter versus anti-matter. God refuses to accompany the people out of concern for their destruction. And yet there is a way, through a faithful mediator, who is in communion with the Lord and also loves the people (again a hint of things to come). We saw in the last chapter that Moses had a unique position in being both on the mountain and among the people.

For some reason the text itself doesn’t explain, Moses has a tent outside the camp, but even here we find a concession of the Lord who doesn’t completely abandon the people. There is a form of the guiding column of smoke that serves here as a catalyst for the people to worship in repentance from their own place. Here is a new development from the last chapter and more sign of hope. Whereas, before, it was just Moses pleading for the people, now there is still Moses pleading – successfully - for the people, but also the people have their own role of repentance.

The way is being prepared for restoration of the covenant, and yet not based on the actions or any merit of the people or even their mediator (not even Moses can experience the direct presence of God), but on the yet-not-abrogated promise of God, that the actions of the people and their leader are allowed to have a role in re-awakening.

Prayer:
Lord, let us all contemplate for a moment the effectiveness of true repentance over against insistence on rights, influence and privileges. Through Christ. Amen.