Exodus 33 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Exodus 33:1-6

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, “I will give it to your descendants.” 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.’

4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites, “You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.”’ 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

A. Find Out:

1. Where were they to go? v.1
2. Who would go before them? v.2a
3. How many groups would have to be pushed out? v.2
4. How was the land described? v.3a
5. Why was the Lord not going with them? v.3b
6. How did the people feel about this? v.4

B. Think:

1. How is the promised land identified and described? i.e. what sort of land is it?
2. Whose responsibility does it appear to be to clear the land?
3. What do the Lord’s comments tell us about Him and about the people of Israel ?  

C. Comment:

     It’s time to move out from Sinai and go on. Now we learn several important things. First, about the LAND. It’s the land where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived, and that God had promised the nation would live in. It was a bountiful land, but it was also inhabited by at least six pagan groups who would need to be driven out. However, the responsibility for removing them is put on the Lord’s angel.

      Second, about the LORD. With His understanding He knows what the people are like, and he knows they have a tendency to be proud and rigid in their thinking. He knows they will not be good at submitting to His leading and His care, and as a result they might sin and come under His judgement.

      Third, about the PEOPLE. Despite what has just recently happened with some of them turning to idol worship and being destroyed for it, the rest seem grieved that the Lord will not be coming with them. There appears some hope for them after all – but time will tell!

D. Application?

1. God is a Provider, but His provision has to be claimed and taken from the enemy.
2. If it wasn’t for Jesus, most of us would be living under the fear of constant judgement.

Passage: Exodus 33:7-11

7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting’. Anyone enquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

A. Find Out:

1. Where was the tent pitched? v.7a
2. Who would go to it? v.7b
3. What did the people do when Moses went to it? v.8
4. What happened while the Lord spoke to Moses? v.9
5. What did the people do at this? v.10
6. How did the Lord speak to Moses? v.11a
7. Who remained with the tent? v.11b

B. Think:

1. Why was the tent apparently there?
2. What did its position indicate?
3. What does this show about Moses’ relationship with the Lord?

C. Comment:

      While they were still at Sinai, Moses had this tent which he erected outside the camp as a meeting place with the Lord. This provided a focus point for the people to seek the Lord. The position of the tent indicated the distantness or holiness of God, a need to leave the camp and leave the people to go to God. If you sought the Lord others would see it. Moses was clearly the most common user of the tent and when he went there a pillar of cloud, signifying God’s presence would settle there. As the people saw this and acknowledged the relationship that Moses had with the Lord, they each worshipped the Lord from their own tent.

     Moses had a unique relationship with the Lord where the Lord spoke “face to face” with Moses i.e. very openly and very directly, not using an intermediary. Within the nation there is another very special person as well, a young man by the name of Joshua who had been on the mountain with Moses (see Exodus 32:17) and is now continually at the Tent. This young man is destined to lead Israel into the Land but for now he is serving his apprenticeship with Moses.

D. Application?

1. Jesus was crucified outside the city, and we have to live outside the city called the “world”.
2. Are we clearly seen as worshippers of the One True God?

Passage: Exodus 33:12-23

12 Moses said to the Lord, ‘You have been telling me, “Lead these people,” but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, “I know you by name and you have found favour with me.” 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.’

14 The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’

15 Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’

17 And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.’

18 Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’

19 And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’

21 Then the Lord said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’

A. Find Out:

1. What was Moses’ first request? v.13a
2. Why did he want that? v.13b
3. What was his second request? v.15
4. Why was he asking that? v.16
5. What was his third request? v.18
6. What did the Lord say He would show him? v.23

B. Think:

1. How does Moses show that his desire is to please the Lord?
2. How does he show he is concerned that the Lord’s name is honoured?
3. How are Moses’ requests seen as a progression?

C. Comment:

      Presumably at the meeting at the tent, Moses raises again the question of their future. The Lord had previously said He wouldn’t go with them (v.3). It is with this in mind that Moses speaks.

       He first asks to be taught the WAYS of God so that he will be doing the things that please God, the way he leads the people. We can know descriptions of the Lord but if we know His WAYS it means we learn something of His heart, the ways He works, the principles and methods He uses. His ways are thus very important; they are an indication of more deeply knowing Him.

       His reply indicates that although He will not be in their midst, something of His presence will be with them to encourage them. How this can be is not made clear. Moses takes courage at this and really asks, “Please make sure you do go with us” as his second request.

        When he receives an encouraging reply from the Lord, he asks the ultimate – may I see your glorious being? The Lord indicates that this is only partly possible, perhaps because Moses couldn’t cope with the awful purity of God’s face, or perhaps because Moses might fall prey to pride if he did see the Lord. The reason for the Lord’s refusal is not made clear but it must come from His concern for Moses.

D. Application?

1. Moses wasn’t afraid to ask things of God.
2. Relationship means communication.