Exodus 33

Exodus 33 contains three separate "stories" that, on the surface, seem a little disjointed and scatterbrained. However, upon closer inspection, one sees that all three passages do share at least one common thread: they reveal aspects of God's nature. Yes, I know that pretty much everything in the Bible does that, so maybe I'm grasping at straws. Still, I think it wouldn't hurt to explicate what I've learned here, if only for my own edification.

First, God yet again recapitulates part of the covenant He made with His people. But this time, He adds a barbed little addendum: He calls them "stiff-necked," saying, "I might destroy you on the way" (verse 3). Not exactly reassuring, but at least He's being honest here. The threat of punishment is enough to send the Israelites wallowing in self-pity. Now, did God really want to make everyone all sulky and petulant? I don't think God wishes us ill will, but at the same time, He probably knows that sometimes, pain can be the only way to make us change our oft-inveterately sinful ways. Of course, that's not to say that all who suffer necessarily deserve it--we do, after all, live in a broken world. I'd guess that, in this passage, God is using the threat of force to get the Israelites to repent. Of course, they've just witnessed the Levites cutting down many of their brethren, so that's undoubtedly still lingering in their minds. God knows what will spur us into action, even if it involves a measure of suffering.

When Moses talks to God, he moseys on over to a tent while everyone else watches. I'd imagine if Moses were living in today's world, He'd be swarmed by paparazzi and reporters. "Hey, Moses! Look this way! C'mon, give us a duck face!" He could even have Joshua as his bodyguard, helping usher Moses into the limo tent while warding off the swarming leeches. On a more serious note, God speaks "to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (verse 11). Pretty remarkable, especially in an era before Jesus came down as a man. This wonderfully intimate portrayal of God contrasts starkly with the formidable being emitting lightning, thunder, smoke, and fire from the top of Mount Sinai.

And even within this chapter, we get another reminder of just how mighty God is. Moses rather audaciously asks to see God's glory, but God reminds him that "no one may see me and live" (verse 20). Moses may view God's back, but even then, God will have to cover Moses with His hand as He passes (verse 22). And yet our awesome God can still talk to us like we would talk to a friend. Maybe He would frown on some of the more ribald topics that we sometimes sink to, but we should be comfortable sharing our innermost thoughts and concerns with Him. Yes, He knows them anyway, but I get the sense that He does get a kick out of our individuality and how we choose to express ourselves to Him (as long as it's not malicious, of course--I doubt anyone, much less God, would accept killing or hurting others as an appropriate way of "expressing themselves.") And by expressing ourselves in our own unique way, we're proving that we're forming a relationship with God out of our own free will--God's not forcing it upon us.

Tyler Durden from Fight Club says, "You are not a unique and beautiful snowflake." Well, you are (not literally), but you have to remember that everyone else is a unique snowflake as well--not just you (which does match the railing-against-self-entitlement that Durden was going for. However, I do disagree with his vehement characterization of society as the "all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world." Mr. Durden obviously hasn't heard me sing or watched me dance. But I digress, as is my wont.) God takes delight in each and every one of His unique children.