“Adonai would speak to Moshe face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then he would return to the camp; but the young man who was his assistant, Y’hoshua the son of Nun, never left the inside of the tent.”-Exodus 33:11
Let’s take a good look at this phrase “face-to-face”.
We’ll encounter this phrase quite a bit in the Torah and many of those times refer to Moses speaking with God.
In verse 11, it clearly says that the Lord spoke with Moses “face-to-face” but then in verse 20 it clearly states “But my face you cannot see, because a human being cannot look at me and remain alive”.
Is this a Biblical contradiction?
The Hebrew word for face is PANIYM.
Now depending on the context, this word can actually have two meanings.
It can literally mean “face” as is in “Hey man, you got some chewing gum stuck to your face“.
Or it can mean “presence” as in God’s Spirit was nearby as opposed to be being far away.
There is debate among scholars concerning which meaning is being referred to in verse 11.
However, if the Scripture is true and cannot contradict itself, I have to go with the interpretation that in verse 11 “face-to-face” means that Moses was intimately communicating with God’s presence.
Here is what the great Hebrew scholar Robert Alter had to say:
“These two idioms for direct communication cannot be literally true because the burden of what follows in this chapter is that no man, not even Moses, can see God’s face. As it appears to the Israelites from their vantage point in front of their tents, Moses conversing with the pillar of cloud is speaking to God as a man speaks to his fellow. “-Alter, Robert, The Five Books of Moses: A Translation with Commentary
There is another point we cannot overlook.
In those days, “face-to-face” was a common Hebrew idiomatic expression with varying meanings depending on the context.
It could mean an intense conversation like a heated debate, or driving a hard bargain like when you’re negotiating prices at an open market.
“I went face-to-face with that shopkeeper until he gave me a discount!”
Another meaning is the brazen expression of anger.
“My father spoke face-to-face to me about failing math class”.
When reading the Scriptures, it can be quite a challenge to know whether face-to-face is indicating “presence”, “intense debate” or “anger”.
The reason is because we’re not just dealing with context but also subtle cultural nuances surrounding the context.
The general scholarly consensus concerning the meaning of “face” in verse 20 is that it is indeed referring to a literal face with features visible to human eyes.
However, the back-and-forth dialogue in verse 11 is a strong hint that a heated debate was taking place.
Moses questions God.
God responds.
Moses disagrees and offers up an alternate suggestion.
God declines.
Moses tries to persuade the Lord again.
Finally, the Lord agrees.
Such interplay was quite typical in the ancient Middle East.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“No one has ever seen Hashem.
It is Elohim the Ben Yachid
[who shares the nature of Hashem,
the Chochman Ben Elohim at his side,
it is he,
the one being in the kheyk (bosom) of HaAv,
this one is Hashem’s definitive midrash.”
-OJB John 1:18
In my studies I have come to the conclusion that God is a Spirit beyond our mortal comprehension. He is not a “He”, does not have human features and does not sit on a throne [this would indicate He has a rear end to sit on]. Hence, in order to communicate with mere human beings God must resort to some type of form. I agree that no man can see God and live due to His substance or being [think of an human coming in contact with the surface of the sun]. Jesus was able to see God through the Word of God dwelling in Him. So the question is: What is this form that can communicate with mortals? I think there is a hint at the burning bush. It starts off with the angel of the Lord and then God speaking. Its as thought the angel is pushed to the background to emphasis the Lord speaking and not the messenger. Many people don’t understand that when a Prophet of God speaks, it is not the prophet. The prophet is merely a mouth piece. Many times the prophet doesn’t even know what they are going to say next and is astonished at what they just said. [I’ve had this experience]. So, I’m merely throwing my 2 cents into the discussion, because I don’t have the answer.
Interesting and insightful thoughts you shared Pastor Russ. Thanks for sharing.
The Word of God tells us that:
Colossians 1:14-16 King James Version (KJV)
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 WHO IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
of course, this Scripture is referring to Jesus…the only way we will actually see God on the throne (John said in Revelation 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, AND ONE SAT ON THE THRONE.) is through the face of Jesus.
Pastor Russ, God bless you for this insight. I have been looking for how to swallow Exodus 33: 11 and now I am a lot better.
If you don’t mind, I like to talk to you face to face
Thank you
I do believe God allows us to see His face as He wills.
Possibly Penny. Thanks for reading.
This was a wonderful and very insightful article for me to be able to read. Very timely. Thank you so much for sharing it!
And, I agree with Pastor Russ that God is a Spirit beyond our mortal comprehension, indeed. However … I do think the Bible is clear that He’s a “he.” Especially since God created the idea of gender, and the gender roles – His role, as Head and Lord of all things, is reflected by the male gender. Otherwise, I don’t think the Bible would clearly call Him “Father” or show that He willingly gave up His firstborn Son, etc. However if we remove this distinction and allow ourselves to view God as a genderless Spirit, I think that we open the door to possibly ascribing female characteristics to God in a way that could go against the whole of what is so thoroughly communicated in Scripture. Since God created the roles of “he” and “she,” He intentionally made the “he” role to reflect Himself; so it seems to me that we shouldn’t try extend our minds to view Him any differently.
In contrast to what one comment or stated, Jesus did not see God via God’s Spirit within Him; rather, Jesus is God in the flesh: the great I AM; Wonderful Counselor; great God and Savior; the faithful and true witness (of who God is; the way (to God), the truth (of God), the life (of God.)
If in one’s “studies “ one lacks the light of the Holy Spirit to give discernment, then one will never come to understand God. Not only can you not see the kingdom of God if you’re not born again, you will also not understand it.
Recall that Jesus—the Word of God—spoke all of creation into existence and currently holds it all together by the word of His power. Jesus existed with God before He made creation.
Repent, be born again.
Is not man formed in God’s image