This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above

EXODUS
CHAPTER 33

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: 2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: 3 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. 4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

God expresses His anger with Israel's sin of idolatry even further. He says
He will withdraw His full presence and only send an angel. And Moses must lead
the people as they are to Canaan Land.
God's reason for this? They are "stiffnecked." He gave them the yoke of the law
and they have rebelled. His anger is greatest toward proudness and rebelliousness
in mankind.
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth more grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. 6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.

However, God offered an alternative. His mercy allows repentance. If they would
"put off" all their ornaments, they would show humility and repentance. When we
put away glorifying self, God rescues us.

7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Now Moses takes the "tent of judgment" he'd been using and sets it up away from the people.
This shows that sin sets us apart from God, and reconciliation can only be made by applying
for His forgiveness. Moses symbolizes Christ as he enters the tabernacle and intercedes for the
people. The people look for God's answer in worship (vs 10).

Notice that the Bible says God spoke to Moses "face to face." In the following verses we will see
that obviously does not mean that God allowed Moses to see His face. It does mean that God spoke from
the Shekinah Cloud directly to Moses just as one friend speaks to another.

12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Now Moses makes a prayer of intercession for the people.
God, Who knows each of us by name, has given us a command to bring others to His kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20).
But how can we do that unless He shows us how, and also "considers" us as His people? That's Moses' prayer
in verse 13.
God reestablishes His covenant right here (verse 14). He assures Moses of His presence, which is guide
enough for us to know the right way (See John 14:6).
God forbid that we, as His people, should ever try to attain or accomplish anything without His
presence (Verse 15). We only make a mess without God. But when God shows His presence in what we do
the world knows we are different ("separated" - verse 16). This kind of difference and separateness
doesn't repel others, rather it attracts them.
Again, God assures Moses of His presence and guidance (vers 17).
What a magnificent lesson in the short verse 18! Moses had just spent 40 days and nights with God
as no man had done. And now he stands isolated from Israell speaking openly to God and God speaking
openly to him. Yet Moses wants to know MORE of God!

19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Moses asked to see God's "glory" and God answers that He will cause all HIs "goodness" to pass by Moses.
God's goodness IS His glory! He is glorious because He is good. Moses is to be hidden in a
"cleft of the rock," and God will allow Moses only to see His "after-glory."
You and I must be hidden in the Rock - Jesus, in order to witness ANY of GOd's glory! Why is it that
no one can see God's face today? (see verse 20)
We are housed in the body of sin. And this body would immediately die if we looked fully upon the
true glory and goodness of God.
But ONE DAY!! One day we will SEE Him "face to face."!!

Please continue to follow along in Bible study with us.