How Moses Met God: Insights into Biblical Encounters with the Divine

In the Bible, there are several accounts of human encounters with the divine. Perhaps one of the most intriguing is the story of Moses' meeting with God on Mount Horeb (Sinai). This encounter is a testament to the mysterious and awe-inspiring nature of the relationship between human beings and the spiritual world.

The Request and the Response

According to biblical references such as the The Bible Encyclopaedia Insight on the Scriptures Reference Bible Notes and All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial, Moses approached God with a request that perhaps few would dare to make: he asked to see God's glory. This request was not taken lightly. In Exodus 33:17-23, we find Moses' plea to God and God's subsequent response.

Moses said:

[Jehovah] I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will declare before you the name of Jehovah, and I will favor the one whom I may favor, and I will show mercy on the one to whom I will show mercy. But you cannot see my face for no man can see me and live.

This encounter is not just a one-time meeting but a revelation of God's nature, His qualities, and His purpose for humans.

The Nature of Divinity in the Bible

The Bible emphasizes that God is a Spirit, invisible to human eyes. This is clearly stated in John 4:24: "God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." The purpose of maintaining God's invisibility is to shift our focus from His form to His qualities, promoting worship based on spiritual understanding rather than mere outward appearances.

In Exodus 33:20, God explicitly states: "No man may see me and yet live." This statement highlights the greatness of God's power and the limitations of human perception, underscoring the importance of divine revelation through the unfolding of His goodness.

The Special Encounter on Mount Sinai

Despite God's general invisibility, there are moments in the Bible where divine manifestations are described. This is particularly true for the encounter between Moses and God on Mount Sinai. From Exodus 33:17-23, we learn that Moses was granted a special revelation. The text states:

[Jehovah] I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will declare before you the name of Jehovah, and I will favor the one whom I may favor, and I will show mercy to the one to whom I may show mercy. And he added: ‘You are not able to see my face because no man may see me and yet live'

In this critical moment, Moses was given a unique experience. God promised to shield him with His hand as His glory passed by, allowing Moses to see "His back" but not His face.

The Use of Representatives in Biblical Encounters

The Bible is clear that direct encounters with the divine are rare and extraordinary. Instead, these encounters often involve divine representatives, such as angels. For example, in Exodus 24:16, the glory of the LORD abides upon Mount Sinai, rather than God Himself. Similarly, in Luke 2:9, the announcement of Jesus' birth is accompanied by the appearance of "Jehovah's angel and Jehovah's glory." These representations are divine manifestations that people could experience and witness.

In conclusion, the encounter between Moses and God is a powerful illustration of the relationship between human beings and the divine. It emphasizes the importance of understanding God through His qualities, His goodness, and His mercies, rather than focusing on His form. This encounter not only shaped Moses but also became a blueprint for the faith and worship of all believers.