EXODUS CHAPTER 33 ----------------- Verses 4-10, The context: The children of Israel had just cast off their God and made unto themselves a golden calf, patterned after their own lusts. God would have destroyed them in righteous anger had it not been for the typical mediator. Had there been no Moses to plead their cause they would have been destroyed (though it was all within the sovereign purpose of God). Had we no High Priest to plead for us base upon the merits of His atoning sacrifice, we too would have perished. How Moses must have loved his people: Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Ac 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. Just as Moses left the high courts of Pharaoh's house, so too our Lord left glory above and came to a sinful earth to redeem a people which He called brethren. Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Moses was also a man who was not appreciated. They repeatedly murmured and rebelled against him. They said, "As for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him" (Ex 32:1). Ex 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? So too, we read of Christ, "having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end" (Joh 13:1). However, we saw that while Moses averted the consuming wrath of God, yet God was still displeased with them in a governmental way. The nation was not consumed (32:10), but it was plagued (32:35). This was due to no failure on Moses part, but a lack of repentance on the part of the people. There seems to be little preaching of repentance in our day to the unsaved, and even less to the saved. Lu 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. If there is no repentance among God's people then the chastening hand of God will follow. READ Ex 33:1-3, At the beginning of this book we saw that they were an afflicted people. "An afflicted people is an object of grace; but a stiffnecked people must be humbled." So, idolatrous Israel was answer with strong rebuke. "... for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way" (Ex 33:3). Verse 4, The first hopeful sign on the part of the people (we understand that God grants repentance). The Hebrew word for "mourn" in this passage means to sorrow or lament. The threat that Jehovah would not accompany them moved Israel to deep contrition. When the Lord is no longer in the presence of His people it is time for them to "mourn." In Revelation 3 we see Jesus on the outside of the Church at Laodicea with them perfectly content with things the way they were. Verses 4-5, "and no man did put on him his ornaments. 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." The removal of their ornaments was for the purpose of showing evidence of the genuine contrition. If they were to be humble then outward adornment would be out of place. External attractions and displays show up the absence of that lowliness of spirit and brokenness of heart. Ps 34:18* The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Ps 51:17* The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Isa 57:15* For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. How the Church at Laodicea was adorned with riches, and yet was poor and naked. Christendom has adorned itself with all manner of riches and rituals and manner of worship, that God has never appointed, yet God sees it as naked and poor. Verse 6, Here they obeyed God's command. Here was another hopeful sign. 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Lu 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Paul had rebuked the Church at Corinth, saying, "Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings" (1Co 4:8). There they had their ornaments on. He later wrote, 2Co 7:8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though [it were] but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. Verse 7, Pink points out that the tabernacle spoken of here was not the one with the three apartments, but the tent where the people would meet. Remember that the people worshiped the golden calf while Moses was in the mount receiving the commands from God concerning the tabernacle. However Moses had heard God's word in the mount concerning the tabernacle, so his pitching the tent outside the camp was an act of faith in anticipating the actual erection of Jehovah's dwelling place. This was not a direct command by Jehovah to place the tent outside the camp, but a discernment by Moses based upon what he had heard in the mount concerning the tabernacle. And God had also said, "for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people" (vs 3). "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" (vs 7). Holiness forbade God from entering the defiled camp, but grace made it possible for the people to meet Him outside the camp. At once we think of Hebrews 13:13. Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. This was not written to the Corinthians who had turned the Lord's supper into a carnal feast and where immorality had been condoned. It was not written to the Galatians who had allowed false doctrine to enter in. But, it was addressed to the Hebrews. The believing Jews were encouraged to forsake the unbelieving Nation who had despised and rejected Christ. The camp was guilty of the murder of God's Son, hence the call to go outside the camp. Pink says that Ex 33:7 nor Heb 13:13 supplies any warrant for Christians forsaking "churches" or companies of God's professing people where Christ is owned, honored, and worshipped. It was not until the Lord was rejected and they worshiped an idol that Moses pitched the tent outside the camp. If I am in a place where the Christ of God is denied, the inspiration of the Scripture repudiated, the Holy Spirit quenched through a false god having been set up, then no matter what my friends may do, I must come out and separate myself. In Rev 3:2 Christ said, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God." but those who were in the Harlot He said, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues" (Rev 18:4). We will never find a perfect Church. I we are looking for perfect people, then we may as well go to the house, however we should not be part of a false system, that denies Christ's work at calvary, and who has set up a false god of their own imagination, though they may have all the right names (Jehovah, Jesus, Christ, etc.). Verse 8, They all looked to see what Moses was doing. They did not come outside the camp at that time. Verse 9, The cloudy pillar was the visible symbol of Jehovah's presence. We saw the cloudy pillar three times. 1st Ex 13:21, then in Ex 14:19-20, and now here in Ex 33:9. 1st = guidance 2nd = protection 3rd = communion Notice that the LORD talked "with" and not "to" Moses. In verse 11 he spoke to him as a man does with a friend. Verse 10, Pink says the tent points to the pilgrim character. here we see that they returned to worshiping the true God. GRACE ABOUNDING ( Verses 11-17) Here we behold the typical mediator (Moses) succeeding in his intercession for sinful Israel. Not only did he through his intercession avert the wrath of God but also secured Jehovah's continued presence in their midst. What we see is "That where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Remember from our last chapter: First we saw Israel's awful sin (32:1-6). Second, we have the intercession of Moses in averting the "consuming" wrath of God (32:11-14). Third, we have the chastening of the people for it (32:25-28) Fourth, we have the repentance of Israel Fifth, we have Moses pitching the Tent "outside the camp" and everyone "which sought the Lord," going forth unto it (33: 7- 10). Now, we have Jehovah's response to this action of His servant, Moses. At the beginning of our present chapter, Jehovah said, "For I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou [art] a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way." Israel's terrible sin had resulted in God removing Himself from their presence. The mediation of Moses had averted the wrath of God but it was not until Israel repented that the LORD could come in among them again. The same principle holds true today. If we expect God to be with us then we need to repent and confess our sins. Compare: Jam 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. The next thing we read of in our present chapter: "And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments" (vs 4). The greatness of their sin was beginning to be realized, and so now their "drinking and playing" and their laughter was turned into sorrow and mourning. Then we see that the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments (v 6). This was evidence of their genuine repentance. As John the Baptist said, "bring forth fruit meat for repentance." Next we see that everyone that sought the LORD went forth outside the camp to the Tent. Pr 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy. After this Moses, who had pitched the Tent outside the camp, by faith, went into the tent and the cloudy pillar descended on the tent and the LORD spoke to Moses, at which time the people when they say it they worshiped Jehovah in their tent door. Verse 11, " 11* And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." This must have been the most blessed revelation that Moses had ever received from God. More so than when in the mount. Here Moses spoke with the God of all creation as friend with friend. What sweet communion with the Jehovah of heaven. While our text says, "face to face" this must not be taken such that Moses saw the face of God, because in verse 20 God said, "Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." And then in verse 23, "And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." Our verse here speaks of the free and intimate fellowship between the LORD and his servant, Moses. Notice Moses had separated himself from what was dishonoring to Jehovah and went forth outside the camp, bearing his reproach, and the result was sweet communion with God. Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. This closeness of Moses and Jehovah, again is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joh 5:20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. Joh 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him]. Verse 11, "And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle." Pink says, "Here, as always in the book of Exodus, Moses and Joshua have to be considered together, as mutually complementing each other." Moses returned to the camp to minister unto the people, but in spirit the servant does not leave the sweet retreat outside the camp. Verse 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." In this verse and the verses following we see again the typical mediator. A foreshadowing of Christ as our mediator. In the previous chapter God had said he would send his angel before them (32:34), so this may seem to clash with that statement. When Jehovah had said that in 32:34, Israel had remained impenitent, and the Lord could not remain with them. But now that Israel had repudiated their sin, and had given evidence of it, Moses now says, "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." This brings us back to Ex 3:4 Ex 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. Moses brings God back to His promises that He made in the mount. There Jehovah had made Himself known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was there that Jehovah declared, "And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites" ( Ex 3:8). It was a promise that God had made to Moses. Here we see the boldness of Moses' faith. Here we also see our true mediator pictured in type. We are an unworthy people and all mercy is based upon the covenant made with Christ and the promises made to Him. Verse 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:" God had sworn that He would lead Israel into the promised land and not exterminate them in the wilderness. And now Moses says show me thy way. The practical lesson is that God's way is not discovered by ourselves. God must show us His way. Ps 25:4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Ps 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. Ps 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. Verse 13, "and consider that this nation [is] thy people." Here again we see Moses pleading for the nation. It was Moses casting himself back on the promises that God made at the burning bush. Our Great High Priest makes the same claim for His people. "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for THEY ARE THINE" (Joh 17:9). Verse 14, "And he said, My presence shall go [with thee], and I will give thee rest." Pink says that this verse should read as a question. As it reads the next two verses seem confusing. Did Moses question what God had just promised? And did God repeat what he said in verse 14? Pink says that if we read verse 14 as a question, "Shall My presence shall go [with thee], and shall I give thee rest?" Verse 15, "And he said unto him, If thy presence go not [with me], carry us not up hence." Moses did not want to go any where unless the LORD's presence was with them. All was vain if Jehovah was not with them. Moses identifies himself with his people. He says, "carry US not up hence." How this pictures our blessed Lord Jesus, who said, "Behold I and the children which God hath given me" (Heb 2:13). Verse 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." Again, Moses identifies himself with the people, "I and thy people..." (He says twice in this verse). Moses appeals to the sovereign grace of Almighty God. God had told Moses that they were "thy people" but now Moses says to God "thy people." "[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." What separates God's people from all the other people of the earth, that are not His people, is that the Holy Spirit is with them. Ro 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Verse 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." How blessed is the answer of God to the typical mediator. "I will do this thing also that THOU HAST SPOKEN..." The typical mediator succeeded in his mediatorial work. Our mediator is greater than the typical one. It was grace pure and simple, sovereign and long-suffering grace. Grace bestowed on a people who were undeserving of any of God's blessing and who had forfeited any and every claim upon God. Jer 31:1 At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2 Thus saith the LORD, The people [which were] left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; [even] Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. God's "presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest." No matter what the circumstances in life. No matter what obstacles are in the way. We can have rest with the presence of God with us. Ps 46:1 God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Of course also this speaks of future rest with God. No toil. No sin. No sorrow. By faith we anticipate it. It is our hope. It brings us rest in this present day with all of it's sorrow. SOVEREIGN MERCY (Ex33:18-23) ---------------------------- The book of Exodus deals with redemption of a chosen people. The book of Genesis dealt with the election and calling of Abraham and Israel as God's chosen nation. But Exodus deals with redeeming that nation from the house of bondage. Verse 18, "And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory." In previous verses we saw that Moses talked with God as friend with friend (vs 11). This is the longing of the redeemed and the goal of their redemption, to behold the glory of God. The more we know of God, the more we want to know. This longing of the redeemed will be fully realized. Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof. Rev 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads. What a request by Moses! God did not rebuke him. Verse 19, "And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee," God's glory is His goodness. Ex 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation]. Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him. Ps 100:5 For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations. Ps 135:3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD [is] good: sing praises unto his name; for [it is] pleasant. Ps 145:9 The LORD [is] good to all: and his tender mercies [are] over all his works. God's goodness, grace and mercy in the person of Jesus Christ is the theme of the scriptures. It is His glory. Verse 19, "and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee;" Ex 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this [is] my name for ever, and this [is] my memorial unto all generations. Verse 19, "and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." Grace and mercy must be given in a sovereign manner for it to be magnified. If God loved all men equally, and some perish, then how can the love of God be what secures our salvation? "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we SHOULD BE called the sons of God..." (1Jo 3:1). Ro 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. If the grace of God is bestowed on all men equally and some men perish then how can it be said that we are saved by grace? Ro 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Grace and mercy: They are not exactly synonymous. Grace is listed first. Grace is the free gift. God chose us from before the foundation of the world in an act of grace. God sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins, the sins of a rebellious people, as an act of mercy. God had been gracious to Israel in the wilderness, providing for them his free gifts; but they worshiped the golden calf and had set an idol in His place, and in a sense trotted under foot His grace, but "His mercy endureth forever." Compare Ps 105 to Ps 106. Pink says, "Mercy is that blessed quality of God's nature which meets the deep and dire needs of those who have sinned against His grace. The background of God's grace is our emptiness, poverty, worthlessness. The foil for His mercy is our sinfulness, wickedness, vileness." Is not our cry daily, "Oh God, have mercy." Lu 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. The Pharisee in a sense recognized God's goodness and grace, because He thanked God for the way he was. His problem was that he saw no need for God's mercy. The publican on the other hand was in need of sovereign mercy. He was not demanding mercy, for someone in need of mercy also realizes that he does not deserve it and has done everything to cause God not to be gracious, else it would not be called mercy. The publican was shut up to God's sovereign mercy. He was in desperate need. Ps 106:1 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. Oh, thank God it does! Lot was a justified man, chosen of God. However he had forsaken Abraham and had settled in wicked Sodom. Gen 19:16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. The Gospel is a Gospel of grace but it deals with mercy. "Died for our SINS, according to the scripture." Verse 20, "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." We must distinguish from God's absolute character and His manifestation of Himself. In His absolute character: Joh 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. 1Ti 6:16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honour and power everlasting. Amen. In His revealed character: he has made himself known by names and titles and other manifestations, but most blessedly in the person of Jesus Christ. Pink says that in OT times when God made himself known to Abraham, Moses, and Joshua that it was second person of the Godhead, yet not in His essential Deity, but in human or angelic form. No human creature is capable of perceiving the infinite and eternal Spirit in all His majesty and infinite glory. Verses 21-23, "And the LORD said, Behold, [there is] a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 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: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." Christ is that Rock: "Rock of Ages, clift for me!" 1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Ro 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 1Pe 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. Compare with: Ps 18:2 The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower. 2Sa 22:32 For who [is] God, save the LORD? and who [is] a rock, save our God? First, "Thou shalt stand upon a rock." Ro 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we STAND, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; Second, "I will put thee in a clift of a rock" No sinner can put himself there, but God puts him in the clift of the rock. TO BE HIDDEN IN CHRIST! Ro 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Which rock? Christ or Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Third, "and will cover thee with My hand." Not only are we in Christ but we are protected by the Father's hand (Joh 10:29). It is only when we are hidden in Christ that God's goodness passes before us. Pink says, "His glory can only come into view as the flesh is altogether hidden; that is, as we are made new creatures in Christ." Pink says verse 23 was in keeping with the Legal economy: the law only "having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things..." (Heb 10:1). Contrasted with now: 2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the FACE OF Jesus Christ. 1Ti 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?