In Exodus 33:12-23, Moses reaches a critical point in his relationship with God while making intercession for the rebellious Israelites. In a profound statement of faith (and gumption), the prophet requests, “Please show me your glory” (18). In other words, “God I want to see all I can of you. I want to be awed by the wonder of your presence.” The LORD honors Moses’ request, but with some critical amendments. According to God, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (20). The alternative is that God would place Moses in a crevice of rock and shield his eyes while passing by. “Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen” (v. 23).
Have you ever wondered why it is that God’s face cannot be seen by men in this context? Traditionally we have explained it as God’s presence being too overwhelming for human eyes, and that is most likely a true reason. However, would we suggest that God’s back is somehow less glorious? Is it accurate that the omnipotent, omnipresent YHWH has a less powerful direction that humans can tolerate seeing? Perhaps the anthropomorphism of Exodus 33 has another purpose.
Gregory of Nyssa, a 4th century theologian, saw a connection between this account and Jesus’ call to “follow me” (Mt. 4:19, 8:22, etc.). He writes:
But when the Lord who spoke to Moses came to fulfill his own law, he likewise gave a clear explanation to his disciples, laying bare the meaning of what had previously been said in a figure when he said, If anyone wants to be a follower of mine and not “If any man will go before me.” And to the one asking about eternal life he proposes the same thing, for he says, Come, follow me. Now, he who follows sees the back. [emp. added]
So Moses, who eagerly seeks to behold God, is now taught how he can behold Him: to follow God wherever he might lead is to behold God [emp. added]. His passing by signifies his guiding the one who follows, for someone who does not know the way cannot complete his journey safely in any other way than by following behind his guide. He who leads, then, by his guidance shows the way to the one following. He who follows will not turn aside from the right way if he always keeps the back of his leader in view.[1]
Gregory’s point is that the only way to truly behold God’s glory is to humbly, submissively follow Him as our ultimate guide. Standing face-to-face with God (in this idea) is tantamount to obstinance or defiance. And frankly, anyone who tries to go toe-to-toe with God is going to lose that battle. Or, to put it as the LORD did, “for man shall not see me and live.”
However, falling in line behind God and gazing at His back means we are allowing Him to lead the way. Through humble obedience we will experience His as fully as our feeble minds can. We will behold Him and all His goodness, ironically, not face-to-face, but by viewing God’s back.
[1] Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Moses. Trans. by Abraham Malherbe and Everett Ferguson. 1978, Paulist Press: New York. 119
Cory Waddell