The Command to Leave Sinai
(Deuteronomy 1:1–8)
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land that I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ Gen 12:7Exo 32:13Exo 32:7Gen 22:16-18Gen 26:3Exo 17:3Exo 32:1Exo 32:34 And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Jos 24:11Exo 32:34Exo 23:20Exo 23:27-31Exo 3:8Deu 7:22Exo 3:17Exo 34:11 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.” Exo 32:9-10Act 7:51Deu 9:6-13Exo 3:8Exo 33:15-17Jer 11:5Amo 3:13-14Ezk 33:13-16
When the people heard these bad tidings, they went into mourning, and no one put on any of his jewelry. Num 14:39Ezk 24:17Ezk 24:23Ezk 26:16Lev 10:6Num 14:11Ki 21:272Ki 19:1 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I should go with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.’” Deu 8:2Exo 33:3-4Num 16:21Num 16:45-46Psa 139:23Gen 22:12Isa 22:12Job 34:20
So the Israelites stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward. 1 Exo 33:4Exo 32:3Jer 2:19
The Tent of Meeting
Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it at a distance outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting, and anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. Isa 55:6-7Pro 15:29Exo 29:42-43Isa 59:22Sa 21:1Deu 4:29Mat 7:7-8Psa 27:8 Then, whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand at the entrances to their own tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent. Num 16:27 As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. Psa 99:7Exo 31:18Ezk 3:22Gen 18:33Exo 13:21-22Exo 25:22Exo 33:11Exo 34:3 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent. Exo 4:311Ki 8:141Ki 8:22Luk 18:13
Thus the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun would not leave the tent. Num 12:8Deu 34:10Exo 24:13Exo 33:9Deu 5:4Gen 32:30Jhn 15:14-15Jas 2:23
The Promise of God’s Presence
Then Moses said to the LORD, “Look, You have been telling me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor in My sight.’ Exo 33:17Jhn 10:14-152Ti 2:19Exo 32:34Jer 1:5Gen 18:19Isa 43:1Exo 3:10 Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.” Psa 119:33Psa 25:4Psa 27:11Psa 86:11Col 1:10Deu 9:26Eph 1:17Isa 30:21
And the LORD answered, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Mat 11:28Jos 1:5Jos 21:44Isa 63:9Heb 4:8-9Jos 22:4Psa 95:11Mat 28:20
“If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here. Exo 34:9Psa 4:6Exo 33:3 For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Deu 4:7Num 14:141Ki 8:53Mat 1:23Exo 34:102Co 6:172Sa 7:23Exo 19:5-6
So the LORD said to Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor in My sight, and I know you by name.” Isa 65:241Jn 5:14-15Exo 33:12Gen 19:21Gen 6:8Jas 5:16Jhn 16:23Gen 18:32
Then Moses said, “Please show me Your glory.” Rev 21:23Tit 2:13Exo 33:201Ti 6:162Co 4:6Jhn 1:182Co 3:18Psa 4:6
“I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 2 Rom 9:15-18Eph 1:6-8Jer 31:14Jer 31:12Isa 7:14Exo 34:5-7Exo 3:13-15Isa 12:4
But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” Gen 32:30Jhn 1:181Ti 6:16Isa 6:5Jdg 13:22Jdg 6:22Deu 5:24Exo 24:10
The LORD continued, “There is a place near Me where you are to stand upon a rock, Deu 5:31Zec 3:7Isa 56:5Jos 20:4Luk 15:1 and when My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Psa 91:1Isa 2:21Psa 91:41Co 10:4Psa 18:2Isa 32:22Co 5:19Sng 2:3 Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.” Exo 33:20Jhn 1:181Co 13:121Ti 6:16Job 11:7Job 26:14