Meaning of Exodus 33:20

This verse, spoken by God to Moses, asserts a fundamental truth about the divine nature: God's absolute holiness and transcendence are such that direct, unmediated human encounter with His full presence would result in annihilation. The immensity of God's glory and power, which sustains the very fabric of existence, is not something mortal flesh can withstand. Moses, having already experienced profound encounters with God, such as the burning bush and the revelation at Mount Sinai, is granted a unique intimacy but is still limited from seeing God's face, a metaphor for experiencing the totality of His being. This prohibition underscores the radical difference between the Creator and the created, and the necessary mediation required for humanity to approach the divine.

Context and Background

The immediate context for this declaration is Moses' persistent plea for God to reveal His ways to him more fully and to show him His glory (Exodus 33:13, 18). Following the grievous sin of the golden calf and God's subsequent pronouncements of judgment, Moses acted as an intercessor, seeking reassurance and a deeper understanding of God's character and continued presence with Israel. God’s response in Exodus 33:20 is a direct answer to Moses' request to "show me your glory." While God promises to make His goodness pass before Moses and proclaim His name, He explicitly draws a boundary regarding direct visual perception of His face.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Invisibility and Transcendence: The primary message is God's inherent invisibility and His existence beyond human comprehension and sensory perception. His "face" symbolizes His full, unadulterated presence, which is too potent for human beings to endure.
• Holiness and Purity: God's holiness is intrinsically linked to His power. To be in the unmediated presence of such absolute purity and righteousness would expose the inherent sinfulness and imperfection of humanity, leading to destruction.
• Divine Prerogative and Limitation on Humanity: God sovereignly dictates the terms of engagement with Himself. He establishes limits on human access, not out of unwillingness to relate, but out of necessity for human survival and the preservation of divine order.
• The Nature of Revelation: God reveals Himself progressively and through appointed means, not in a way that overwhelms or destroys His creation. This verse highlights that full, unmediated vision of God is not possible in this earthly existence.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse speaks to the awe and reverence due to God. It reminds believers that our relationship with God is one of mediated grace. We cannot approach God on our own terms or through our own capabilities. Our access to the divine is made possible through the work of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate mediator. Furthermore, it underscores the concept of theosis or deification in some theological traditions, where believers are transformed by God's grace to increasingly reflect His image, but never to become God Himself or to fully grasp His essence this side of eternity. The desire for deeper intimacy with God is a righteous one, but it must be pursued within the framework of His revealed will and through the means He has provided.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Exodus 33:20 sets a precedent for the consistent biblical theme of human inability to fully behold God in His unadulterated glory and live. Throughout the Old Testament, prophets and individuals who experienced divine encounters often did so with a sense of dread, awe, and a recognition of their own sinfulness. The Tabernacle and later the Temple, with their elaborate sacrificial systems and the separation of the Holy of Holies, were physical manifestations of this principle of mediated access. The New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of this need for mediation. John 1:18 states, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." Jesus is the one who can reveal the Father, bridging the gap between humanity and the divine.

Analogies

One analogy is trying to look directly into the sun. While the sun is the source of life and light, its direct, unshielded intensity is blinding and damaging to the human eye. Similarly, God's presence, while life-giving, is too powerful for mortal beings to experience directly without perishing. Another analogy might be a nuclear reactor. The immense power within it can be harnessed for beneficial purposes, but direct, unshielded exposure to its core would be instantly fatal. God's glory is a power of that magnitude, requiring careful shielding and mediation.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 1:18: "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." This verse echoes the sentiment of Exodus 33:20 by emphasizing that God's essence is unseen, but Jesus provides the revelation.
• 1 Timothy 6:16: "who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." This passage reinforces the idea of God's unapproachable dwelling place and His unseen nature.
• Exodus 19:21: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Go down and warn the people not to break through to the Lord to come and see, or many of them will die.'" This earlier passage at Mount Sinai demonstrates God's concern for the people's safety when approaching Him, prefiguring the prohibition in Exodus 33:20.
• 1 John 4:12: "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." This New Testament verse highlights that while direct vision of God is impossible, His presence is experienced through love for one another, a spiritual rather than physical apprehension.
• Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." This eschatological vision offers the ultimate hope of a renewed creation where believers will be with God, implying a transformed state where such direct encounter is possible without destruction.