Exodus 33:18-23

He said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory, &c.— Moses, having obtained from the Lord a merciful remission of the dread penalties denounced upon the Israelites, proceeds now to request a confirmation of his grace by a sight of his glory. Again, condescending to his petition, the Lord promises to make all his goodness pass before him, &c. Exodus 33:19 from which one would conclude, that the glory which Moses was desirous to see, was some display of that mercy reserved for thousands, in future times to be fully exhibited, and which alone can give comfort to repenting and returning sinners. Confirmative of this idea, we find that Christ's manifestation in the flesh is called his glory:—The Word was made flesh, says St. John, and tabernacled among us; and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, John 1:14. Hebrews 1:3 and if, as we have endeavoured to prove, the name of JEHOVAH refers to the MESSIAH, this interpretation will receive new strength; and a sufficient reason is given why God proclaims the name of JEHOVAH before him; adding that prophetical declaration respecting the future and free dispensation of his blessings by the gospel; "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy;" see Romans 9:15. I would observe once more, that goodness (Exodus 33:19.) being immediately opposed to glory, (Exodus 33:18.) and God's discovery of himself (ch. Exodus 34:6.) being that of his goodness; it follows, that glory can only be understood as referring to his goodness: and, indeed, such was the situation of things with Moses, that one cannot well conceive him requesting any other view of God, than a display of him as that merciful and forgiving Saviour, whom he now so entreated for a sinful people. The subsequent part too of this vision, plainly proves, that it was a representation by action of something future: (see notes on Genesis 22.) for, when the Lord says, Exodus 33:20. Thou canst not see my face, something very different must be understood from those expressions where it is said, that Moses spake face to face to the Lord; as indeed, the whole of the history discovers that Moses, in the mount especially, had the nearest intercourse with God. By God's face, therefore, which Moses was not allowed to see, might be meant the full and clear discovery of his mercies in redemption; as by his back-parts, Exodus 33:23 might be meant such a partial and imperfect view of those mercies, as was adapted to the present state of things, and was sufficient for the comfort of himself and the people: but see more in note on Exodus 33:14. That the face and back-parts of God must not be taken in a literal sense, is granted by every one: and, therefore, if the reader agrees not with me in the interpretation I have given to this very obscure passage, he will at least pardon the attempt to elucidate the difficulty as much as possible. If, now that the glory of God in CHRIST is discovered so fully, we see only through a glass darkly; direct vision or sight, face to face, (1 Corinthians 13:12.Isaiah 52:8.) being reserved for another state; Moses, under the Jewish dispensation, might well be allowed only a sight of the back-parts; i.e. a more obscure and distant view of God's mercies in redemption. Should this whole interpretation be rejected, it may be proper to add, that the common one is, that Moses desired to see the unveiled and immediate majesty of God; which God declaring no human eye could bear, promises, by laying his hand upon him, to conceal the dangerous effulgence of his glory; so that he should see only his back-parts, or some such rays of that glory as would not prove destructive. But, from ch. Exodus 34:6 it is evident that the glory discovered, was what Moses and the Israelites now most wanted; his goodness and forgiving mercy.

REFLECTIONS.—Mercies received are an earnest of greater in store: one prayer answered, is the encouragement for renewed supplication. While we are not weary of asking, God is never weary of granting. Moses had obtained one favour for the people; now he seeks another for himself.

1. He begs to see God's glory; some more eminent display of it than had yet been manifested to him. They who have tasted of God's grace, are longing with Moses to behold his glory, yea, to see him face to face.
2. God is pleased to grant him all that could then be granted. The full blaze of uncreated glory even the angels cannot bear, and much less man, who is a worm. But he shall see as much as he can endure, and live. God will make his goodness pass before him, and shew him some glimpse of the transcendent brightness of his train, while hid in the cleft of the rock from the intolerable blaze. Note; (1.) The glory God does most display, is his free and infinite mercy. (2.) All our views of God in this world, are poor and imperfect. It is reserved for the felicity of a better state, to see him as he is, and to know even as we are known. (3.) Whoever hopes to come to this beatific vision, must remember that there is no way to enjoy it, but by being found in Christ, as Moses in the cleft of this rock which represented him. Lord, I beseech thee, shew me the glory of thy grace in the face of Jesus Christ on earth, and bring me to behold its most transcendent brightness in thy Presence in heaven!