Exodus 33
Following on from the unholy mess that the Israelites made in the last chapter, God tells Moses and the
Israelites to move on, he will give them the land as promised but he will not
travel with them as they are likely to provoke him to anger and God might wind
up killing them.
This rather upsets the Israeilites who go into mourning and stop wearing all their jewellery (at least all that is left after the golden calf).
Moses has set up a tent of meeting outside
the camp where he meets with God and people seeking guidance or justice can go.
There was a custom associated with this - when Moses went out of the camp they would all stand at the door of their tents until Moses went into the tent of meeting.
God would show up as a pillar of cloud to meet with Moses.
It is a bit interesting that Moses actually lives in the camp and is part of the community, but Joshua son of Nun (Moses Padawan*) lives full time in the tent of meeting.
The second half of the chapter is a bit more bargaining with God - God has told Moses that to lead the people to the promised land, but you have not told me any details Moses understands that God has called him by name and looks with favour on him. Moses also reminds God that he has chosen all the people
God tells Moses that he will go with him,
Moses responds basically If you don't come with all of us, we don't want to go.
God replies that he will go with Moses. I assume that if the Israelites wish to tag along that will be acceptable as well.
Moses then asks God to show him
his full glorious presence.
God says that he will cause his glorious presence to pass by Moses, but no mortal can see the full Glory of God and live. God hides Moses in a cleft in the
rocks protects Moses by covering the cleft with his hand and Moses is allowed to see God from the back
As a Christian I believe that God does call people by name. There are references in the Bible to names being written in the "Book of life"
*Padawan - Jedi for Apprentice from Star Wars.
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