Exodus 33

Then God said to Moses, “Get up and go from here with the people whom you led out of Egypt. Go to the land that I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants.

I will send my angel ahead of you, and I will remove the people descended from Canaan, Amor, Heth, Periz, Hiv, and Jebus from that land.

You will go to a land that will be very good for raising livestock and growing crops. But I will not go with you myself, because if I did that, I might annihilate you while you are traveling, because you are very obstinate people.” \*

God told Moses to tell the Israelites, “You are very stubborn. If I were to go with you for even a moment, I would kill you. Now take off your fine things {to show that you are sorry for sinning}. Then I will decide if I will punish you.” When the people heard that God spoke harshly, they were sorry, and no one wore fancy things.

From Mount Sinai on, the Israelites took off and left off all their fine things. \*

{Until they built the sacred tent,} Moses set up a tent outside the camp, far away. He called it “the tent of meeting.” Everyone who wanted God to decide something for them would go out of the camp to the tent of meeting.

Whenever Moses went out to the tent of meeting, all the people would stand at their own tent entrances and watch him until he had walked into the tent of meeting.

Whenever Moses went into the tent of meeting, the tall cloud would come down and stay at the tent entrance, and then {God} would talk with Moses. \*

When the people saw the tall cloud standing at the entrance to the tent of meeting, they would all bow to worship God at their own tent entrances.

God would speak directly to Moses like someone speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But his young helper, Joshua son of Nun, would stay in the tent of meeting. \*

Moses said to God, “Please pay attention. You told me to lead the Israelites {to the land that you will show me}. But you have not told me whom you will send {to help} me! You also said that you know me well and that you are pleased with me.

So now, if you are truly pleased with me, I ask you, please tell me the things that you are going to do in order that I may know you better and continue to please you. Please remember that the Israelites are the people whom you chose to belong to you.” \*

God replied, “I will go with you and relieve you.”

Moses replied to God, “If you do not go {with me}, do not make us leave this place.

The only way that others will know that you are pleased with me and with your people is if you go with us! If you go with us, it will show that we are different from all the other nations on the earth.” \*

God replied to Moses, “I will do what you have asked, because I know you well and I am pleased with you.”

Then Moses said, “Please let me see how glorious you are.” \*

God replied, “I will display to you how good I am and tell you {what} my name God {means}. I will act kindly to anyone I choose, and I will act mercifully to anyone I choose.

But you cannot see my face, because anyone who sees my face will die. \*

But look! Here is a place close to me where you can stand on a large rock.

When my glorious {light} goes by you, I will put you in a large hole in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have gone by you.

Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but you will not see my face.” \*