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The DEEP

Hiding

something.

Exodus 34:29-35 (ESV)

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Two questions jump out from this passage. Why did Moses’ shining face scare people so that they were afraid to come near him, and why did Moses put a veil over his face?

As always, holiness is pretty scary, so we’d expect some negative reaction to Moses’ shining face. Having never personally witnessed “shining face syndrome” we can’t know what it looked like, but it sure sounds scary. The Israelites wouldn’t know what to make of it – certainly not at first.

The second question is easier if you think of it as, “Why did Moses hide his face?” But note that he didn’t always hide it. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face was shining. Then Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. What was he hiding?

He was hiding the fact that the glow fades. Paul explains this in his second letter to the Corinthians.

The Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? … Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. – 2 Corinthians 3:7b, 12-13

So, after Moses talks with God, his face glows for a while. It’s not surprising that the glow isn’t permanent. Yet Moses doesn’t want anyone to see that.

Why not? It’s still a glorious reflection of God’s holiness; the temporary nature seems perfectly natural. This sounds like pride. There may be some other explanation, but none is given in scripture. There’s certainly no reason to be ashamed of the fading glow. What a curious time to be prideful.


This illustrates how the great sin of pride never leaves. It lurks in every corner of our hearts and our lives. Confess your pridefulness and ask God to root it out. We cling to our pride. Let it go.


The weekly study guides, which include all six devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Mike Slay

As a mathematician, inventor, and ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, Mike Slay brings an analytical, conversational, and even whimsical approach to the daily study of God's Word.

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