QT 5/12/2026 Exo 34:29–35, Life transformed by God's presence

Exodus 34:29–35 (ESV) —

29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. 32 Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

34 Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, 35 the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

 

NOTE: For now, Moses is meeting with the Lord, face-to-face, in the tent of meeting outside the camp. Some commentators have suggested that later, he will meeting in the completed tabernacle, so my earlier comments should be taken with a grain of salt. For now, the effect of meeting with God, face-to-face, is to cause Moses' face to glow or shine forth light. Two things to point out:

 

1) I'm not sure what "face-to-face" means in this context. God is spirit and so he would not have a face. Additionally, God said that a person would die if he saw God's face. In Exo 33:11, God defines the phrase, "face-to-face" as how a man speaks to his friend. Did he see God's face? No, God is spirit. Did he talk to God like a person talks to a friend face-to-face? Yes. Another possibility is that he could have met with the second person of the deity, the preincarnate Christ, but we don't know.

 

2) Meeting with God causes a change in our image. One cannot meet regularly with God without life change or else you are not meeting with God.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) — And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

 

A person who regularly meets with God will see his life change. He will begin to more and more reflect the image of God. If that is not happening, that person is not meeting with God.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you truly meeting with God every day?
2. Are you seeing change in your life?
3. Does your image reflect Jesus or something else?

 

PRAYER: Father, the religious fool themselves. They read a pre-written devotional and think they have met with God. They attend church each week and Wednesday night activities. But their life stinks because they are angry, crabby, opinionated on everything, complaining, and they don't even see it. Help us to see the true image of ourselves. Help us to repent and desire your Holy Spirit to work change.