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face to face

Exodus 33:20
"And He said, Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live."

The Disciples did not understand when Jesus told them He was GOD. Thomas ask questions that Jesus answered and Philip followed up with the same question!?!? This has to be a little heartbreaking for Jesus. Jesus explained again, "...the words that I speak unto you I speak NOT of MYSELF: but the FATHER THAT DWELLETH in Me, He doeth the works." GOD is doing what they see Jesus doing. It's all GOD'S work. Working through His beloved Son.

This is not even a new idea in the Hebrew tradition! The Old Testament has events where God becomes manifest in our world. They would think of God "dwelled in" or "rested upon" those whom He favored. They even have a word for it, SHEKINAH. They would refer to the divine presence of God as the "Shekinah Glory."

In today's verse, we are reminded of the time God showed Himself to Moses! God cautioned Moses, "Thou canst NOT see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and LIVE." So, God protected Moses by hiding him between rocks and holding His hand over him and letting Moses see His back as He is walking away. It's a remarkable event. Showing that there is a special relationship between Moses and God. And, that there is something about GOD that is on a different level from people. God's holiness is so great that it not only frightens us, it will also KILL us. SO, it's best to see the "Shekinah Glory" of GOD and not GOD, face to face.

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