這是描寫上帝恩典的美麗章節！因著摩西迫切的代求，上帝同意讓以色列人存活，而不照他們該得的報應滅絕他們（33：5），上帝也准許他們繼續應許之地的旅程。但，不同的是，這次上帝自己不與他們同去，祂只擬差一位受造的天使在他們前面，而不同於以往那位「奉主名來的使者」（23：20~22）──三一神的第二位，耶穌基督。沒有上帝的同行，即使能進入迦南地也不是什麼值得高興的事。真正的喜樂來自上帝的同在。以色列因背道所得的審判使他們感到悲哀。

        以色列人終於開始瞭解到他們所犯之罪的嚴重性、後果、及受上帝審判的沈重滋味。摩西感到若上帝不與他們同行，那麼他們最好不去（33：15）。百姓一定也有同感，因為他們為此悲哀（33：3、4）。因著對他們的憐憫，上帝呼召他們悔改，要求他們除去身上的金飾（這是一個人在懺悔和哀悼時的記號）。金牛犢是用他們的金飾打造的，除去金飾表示他們的羞愧和懊悔。等他們順服命令後，上帝才要決定如何向他們施恩（33：5）。

        摩西立在營外的帳棚是他指教百姓和與上帝說話的地方。在真正的會幕建好之前（大約七個月後；出40：2、17），那個帳棚就作為暫時的會幕。將帳棚從以色列民中挪移出去似乎意味著他們不再配得上帝的同在，也象徵上帝因他們的罪與他們隔離作為審判。不過，任何存清潔的心尋求上帝的人，上帝都歡迎他們來到這個帳棚。上帝絕非遙不可及，祂總是為那些誠心尋求祂的人開路。心裡願意朝見上帝的人可以確信，上帝一定也會仁慈的下來與他們相會，正如象徵祂同在的雲柱降下來與摩西相會一樣（33：9）。帳棚與營地的分離，似乎已激使以色列人的心渴望恢復他們與上帝曾有的親密關係。當摩西到會幕去的時候，百姓就恭敬的站著看他進會幕。他們一定也盼望恢復與上帝的關係，因為當他們看見雲柱時，就在自己帳棚的門口向上帝下拜。這是公開承認他們相信上帝的重要舉動。

        摩西與上帝非常親近，他們「面對面」說話，好像朋友一般（33：11）。這種說法的意思是指上帝以一種類似祂的形態出現，而不是摩西後來所欲親睹的上帝完全的榮顏（33：18）。摩西在大膽的要求親睹上帝的榮耀以前，他已得到鼓勵知道自己在上帝眼前蒙了恩（33：12），並且，由於他不斷的代求，上帝同意再次以以色列人為祂的子民，祂也要親自與以色列人同在（33：14）。這處經文似乎暗示上帝先前已因以色列人的違約而否認了他們（32：7；33：14）。摩西持續不斷的代禱就像耶穌基督在上帝面前為我們所做的請求；祂使上帝除去對我們的咒詛，救我們免於滅亡，並使我們得著與上帝同在的有福生命，得享永遠的快樂、真正的平安和安息。

        這樣的恩惠和憐憫應使我們的信心大得鼓勵，且激使我們渴望與上帝有更親密的關係，就像摩西要求一睹上帝完全的榮耀，他的要求不可能被完全准許，上帝以祂的智慧和憐憫向摩西解釋：沒有一個人能見到祂完全的榮光，人見了上帝的面不能存活（33：20）。這個特權是為信徒將來在永恆裡所保留的（約壹3：2）。上帝回答摩西，現在人只要看見祂至高的美德和憐憫就夠了，並且祂願意揀選誰得這恩典就揀選誰（參羅9：15、16、18）。上帝准許摩西在上帝經過時，可以一瞥祂榮耀的餘暉（33：19）；但上帝完全的榮耀實在太耀眼，以致祂必須將摩西置於磐石洞穴中保護他，這是何烈的磐石，據稱代表耶穌（林前10：4）。在這個磐石穴中，上帝保護那些藏身在耶穌裡的人；從這塊磐石，耶穌基督，我們也得見並認識上帝的榮耀（參約1：18）。

        主啊，我們投靠您的憐憫。請您讓我們得見您的榮耀。我們衷心感謝您賜下您的愛子作我們的禮物，使我們可以在祂裡面瞻仰您的榮耀。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

         What a beautiful chapter of the grace of God! Upon the fervent intercession of Moses, the Lord consented to let the Israelites live, instead of destroying them as they deserved (33:5), and He permitted them to continue their journey to the Promised Land. The difference this time in their traveling was that His own presence would not be among them, only a created angel would go with them, not the same Messenger as before in whom was God’s name (Ex. 23:20-22), the second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ. Even permission to enter the Promised Land did not bring joy if God did not go with them. Certainly true joy only comes if God is present in our midst. The Israelites were grieved by this judgment upon them for their apostasy.

         Finally, they began to realize the gravity of their sin, its consequences, and the weight of God’s judgment. Moses felt that if the very presence of God would not go with them, then it was best not to go on at all (33:15). The people must have felt the same way, for they mourned at the thought of it (33:3, 4). In His mercy, the Lord called them to repentance by asking them to remove their jewelry (the sign of a penitent and mourner). The golden calf had been made from their jewelry, now they were asked to remove them in token of their shame and remorse. After they obeyed, God would decide the extent of mercy He would grant them. (33:5).

         The tent which Moses pitched outside the camp was the one from which he would counsel the people and where He would commune with God. It was a temporary sanctuary until the permanent tabernacle was built about seven months later (Ex. 40:2, 17). It seemed the removal of this tent from among the people meant they were not longer worthy of it. It also served to symbolize God’s judgment of separation from Him, because of their sin. However, anyone who sought the Lord with a pure heart was welcome to go there. God is not too far that it is impossible to reach Him, for He has always provided a way for those who sincerely seek Him. Those whose hearts go up to meet God, can be sure that He will graciously come down to meet with them, just as the pillar of cloud, signifying His presence, descended to meet with Moses (33:9). This separation seemed to have stirred a longing in the hearts of the Israelites to restore the closeness with God they once had. When Moses went to this tent the people washed him and stood in respect. They must have had a hope of restoration, for when they saw the cloudy pillar they worshipped God while standing outside their tents. This act served as an important public confession of faith in God.

         Moses was so close to God that they communed “face to face” like friends (33:11). This expression may mean a form, or similitude of the lord, but it was not the actual sight of the full glory of God which Moses later desired to see (33:18). Before he was bold enough to ask such a favor to God, he was first encouraged upon hearing that he found grace in His sight (33:12), and, with his persistent intercession, the Lord’s agreement to once again make Israel His people by accompanying them with His presence (33:14). The txt seems to indicate that previously the Lord had disowned them because they had broken the covenant (32:7; 33:14). Moses’ continued intercession resembles that which Jesus Christ does for us before God; He procures the removal of the curse, thus saving us from destruction, and obtains for us assured life of blessing and everlasting happiness in the presence of God from which comes true peace and rest.

         Such grace and mercy should encourage us in our faith and cause us to desire an even closer relationship with God, as Moses did in his request to see His full glory. This request was not totally possible, as God in His understanding and mercy explained: no mere mortal could see His full brilliance and survive (33:20). This privilege reserved for the believer’s future life in eternity (1 John 3:2). God answered Moses that His sovereign goodness and mercy alone, which He brings upon those whom He chooses (cf. Romans 9:15, 16, 18), should be sufficient to see his glory (33:19). God did permit Moses to catch a glimpse of the afterglow of His splendor as He passed by, but His full glory was so great that He had to place Moses in the cleft of the rock and shield him. That was the Rock of Horeb, which is said to represent Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4). In the cleft of this Rock, God protects those who are hid in Jesus and from this Rock, Jesus Christ, we have the sight and knowledge of the glory of God (cf. John 1:18).

         Lord, we throw ourselves on Your mercy. Please let us see Your glory. We have heartfelt thanks for Your gift of Your Son. In Him we have beheld Your glory.