EXODUS 34
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 in 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. – Exodus 34:29-35
EXODUS 34 MOSES’ FACE SHINES AS HE MEETS GOD
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
After the Lord and Moses finished the two tablets with God’s laws
Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets in his hands
As Moses approached the people, Aaron saw his brother’s face shining
They were afraid to come near him for they fear their lives would end
So, Moses placed a veil on his face so they could come near him
Each time Moses went up to meet with God, his face would shine.
Just after Moses finished the new tablet with the commandments of God, his face shone so brightly. From the description, Aaron and the people had a hard time looking at him and were afraid because he radiated so much light. It’s as if you are looking at the sun and your eyes hurt. That’s what I imagined it felt like for them. No wonder, God warned his people that they would die if they saw his face. Even though the bible doesn’t tell us directly that Moses was face to face with God and he just saw God’s back, he still radiated those powerful rays from being in God’s presence.
REFLECTION
· How would you relate this phenomenon of Moses’ face shining with the joy of the Lord manifesting in a Christian’s face?
