Moses Looks At God
By James Donahue
In Exodus 33:23 Moses seeks to look upon the face of Jehovah and as a special privilege, is allowed to see only the backside of God. God explains that no mortal can look upon the face of God and live. It is another one of those odd verses that can leave the Bible student hanging and wondering why it was part of the big story.
A look at the Bible commentaries strongly suggests that the theologians had no decisive revelations about this little story either.
English Bible scholar Matthew Poole probably offers the best thought. He rephrased God’s explanation: “Thou shalt see a shadow or obscure delineation of my glory, as much as thou canst bear, though not as much as thou dost desire.”
The early books of the Old Testament suggest that certain holy men within the Hebrews were in such direct contact with the Creator that they held conversations with Him, as if they were his physical children and relying on God to guide their every action. When we read these verses we have to wonder why we don’t have a similar relationship.
In a sense we do talk to God when we are in prayer. And when prayer gets answered we sense a direct and wonderful link to the Creator who is always present. But nobody ever gets a physical look at God like Moses did. Or do we?
Indeed, if we consider God as a great energy force that fills the world and universe around us with constant motion we come to an understanding that we are surrounded by the Creator God. He even exists within us. I have personally marveled at the magnificent beauty we can experience when we go into the wilderness and gaze upon His grand creation. This, I believe, is the way we all can look upon God and marvel at his beauty.
Over the years I have talked to people who claim to have heard the voice of God, or have been in some way in contact with the Creator. I have had personal experiences where I believe I have had some kind of mystical contact with a force that has either warned me or rescued me from serious situations. I have tended to credit my Guardian Angel, thinking that this is a spiritual force watching over me.
While I can believe in spirits, angels and even ghosts, I have a hard time believing that Adam and Eve or Moses had any kind of direct personal communication with their Creator. Critics, of course, will say I am wrong.
By James Donahue
In Exodus 33:23 Moses seeks to look upon the face of Jehovah and as a special privilege, is allowed to see only the backside of God. God explains that no mortal can look upon the face of God and live. It is another one of those odd verses that can leave the Bible student hanging and wondering why it was part of the big story.
A look at the Bible commentaries strongly suggests that the theologians had no decisive revelations about this little story either.
English Bible scholar Matthew Poole probably offers the best thought. He rephrased God’s explanation: “Thou shalt see a shadow or obscure delineation of my glory, as much as thou canst bear, though not as much as thou dost desire.”
The early books of the Old Testament suggest that certain holy men within the Hebrews were in such direct contact with the Creator that they held conversations with Him, as if they were his physical children and relying on God to guide their every action. When we read these verses we have to wonder why we don’t have a similar relationship.
In a sense we do talk to God when we are in prayer. And when prayer gets answered we sense a direct and wonderful link to the Creator who is always present. But nobody ever gets a physical look at God like Moses did. Or do we?
Indeed, if we consider God as a great energy force that fills the world and universe around us with constant motion we come to an understanding that we are surrounded by the Creator God. He even exists within us. I have personally marveled at the magnificent beauty we can experience when we go into the wilderness and gaze upon His grand creation. This, I believe, is the way we all can look upon God and marvel at his beauty.
Over the years I have talked to people who claim to have heard the voice of God, or have been in some way in contact with the Creator. I have had personal experiences where I believe I have had some kind of mystical contact with a force that has either warned me or rescued me from serious situations. I have tended to credit my Guardian Angel, thinking that this is a spiritual force watching over me.
While I can believe in spirits, angels and even ghosts, I have a hard time believing that Adam and Eve or Moses had any kind of direct personal communication with their Creator. Critics, of course, will say I am wrong.