Exodus 34: 29-35 (NRSV)
Read Exodus 34: 29-35 on biblegateway.com
Verse 29Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Verse 30When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. Verse 31But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Verse 32Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. Verse 33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; Verse 34but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, Verse 35the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Devotion
I had the rare opportunity to observe a solar eclipse. Warnings were given not to look directly at the eclipse. The light was so bright that it would damage human eyes.
I looked at the eclipse through a welding mask. The light was so intense that, even looking through the dark glass, it forced me to turn away from it.
I think of Moses standing in the glory of God. He must have averted his eyes, or the brilliance would have blinded him. Afterward, his face shone so brightly, that the people ran away from him – they were frightened.
In the dark times I have wished to see God. I have prayed for that certainty, but I know the brilliance of God’s glory would be too great for me. “Now we see in a mirror dimly…” his reflected glory in a cross, resurrection, water, bread, wine and word.
Prayer
Lord, open our eyes to see the reflection your glory. Amen.