Face to Face

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, Your name is above every name. You are holy and sovereign, and all things exist by Your will and for Your glory. We come before You as Your children, acknowledging that every good gift flows from Your hand. Lord grant us today, not only the food that sustains our bodies but the truth that nourishes our souls. Forgive us, for the ways we have fallen short of Your righteousness and Your glory, and grant us the strength to forgive others, as we have been forgiven.

Lord, too often we rely on our own wisdom instead of seeking Yours; we pursue our own desires rather than delighting in Your will. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and renew within us a steadfast spirit that longs to honor You in all things.

We thank You for the gift of Your Word, which instructs, corrects, and comforts us. As we open it today, may it not fall on dull ears or distracted hearts, but penetrate deeply within us, shaping us into the likeness of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Give us humble hearts to receive what You reveal, discerning minds to understand it, and obedient wills to walk in it.

Lord, may Your Spirit move freely among us today—convicting, comforting, and transforming. Strengthen the weary, encourage the fearful, and awaken those who have grown cold or indifferent. Let the truth of Your grace and the power of Your holiness draw us nearer to You.

We ask that everything said and done in this hour would exalt Christ, glorify Your name, and bear lasting fruit in our lives. Speak, Lord, for Your servants are listening.

We pray all this through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, Amen.

Introduction

In John Bunyan’s famous allegory, “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, his hero, Christian comes to face a situation that is very much like one that many of us face on a daily basis. Christian’s encounter reads in this way:

Excerpt from The Pilgrim’s Progress “The Valley of the Shadow of Death”

“I then saw in my dream, that as far as this valley stretched, there was a very deep ditch on the right hand. That is the ditch into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both miserably perished there. Behold, on the left hand was a very dangerous quagmire, into which, if even a godly man falls, he can find no bottom for his foot to stand on. Into that quagmire King David once fell, and no doubt would have been smothered—had not He who is able, plucked him out.

The pathway through this valley was exceedingly narrow—therefore Christian had great difficulty. For when he sought, in the dark, to shun the ditch on the one hand—he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other side! As he carefully sought to escape the mire—he would almost fall into the ditch! Thus he went on, sighing bitterly.

For besides the dangers mentioned above, the pathway was so dark, that often, when he lifted his foot to step forward, he did not know where, or upon what he would set it next.

About the midst of this valley, he saw the mouth of Hell—which was very close to the narrow path. "Now," thought Christian, "what shall I do?" The flame and smoke would continually come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises—things which Christian could not fight with his sword, as he did Apollyon before. Therefore he was forced to put his sword away, and take up another weapon, called All-prayer. So he cried out, "O Lord, I beseech You—deliver my soul!"

Thus he went on for a great while, with the flames still reaching towards him. He also heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro—so that sometimes he thought he would be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets! This frightful sight was seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him for several miles.

Arriving at a place where he thought that he heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him—he stopped and pondered what was best for him to do. Sometimes he had half a mind to go back—then again, he thought he might be already half way through the valley. He also remembered how he had already vanquished many dangers—and that the danger of going back might now be much more, than for him to go forward. So he resolved to persevere on the dangerous path.

Yet the fiends came nearer and nearer—and when they were almost upon him, he cried out with a most forceful voice, "I will walk in the strength of the Lord my God!" With this the fiends retreated, and came no further.

It is important to note, that now poor Christian was so bewildered that he did not know his own voice. Just when he had come near the mouth of the burning pit—one of the wicked ones snuck up stealthily behind him whispering and suggesting many grievous blasphemies to him—which he thought had proceeded from his own mind. This tried Christian more than anything that he met with before—to think that he would now blaspheme Him whom he loved so much! Yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had not the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these blasphemies came.

When Christian had traveled in this disconsolate condition for a considerable time, he thought that he heard the voice of a man somewhere ahead of him, saying, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me."

Then he was glad, and for these reasons:

First, because he realized by this, that someone who feared God was in this valley, as well as himself. Secondly, he realized that God was with him, in that dark and dismal state—though he could not perceive Him. Thirdly, he hoped that he could overtake the person ahead of him, and to have company soon.

So Christian went on, and called to the person ahead of him. But that person did not know what to answer, for he also thought that he was alone.

By and by the day broke. Then Christian said, "He has turned the shadow of death into the morning."

Last week when we left the Israelites standing beneath Mount Sinai, the position that they were in was one in which they had been separated from God, their world had become dark, if not literally, then certainly spiritually. The light of God had gone out of the camp, we read that Yahweh declared that although they were still to go into the promised land and that He would prepare the way for them, they would do so without the blessing of His presence among them. As the reality of this began to dawn on them, we transition from their mourning in verse 6 to Moses’ response in verse 7. In the remaining verses of the passage that we started last week we see how even in the midst of what seemed to be the darkest of night’s their was hope. Please take your copy of God’s word, make your way to the 33rd chapter of the book of Exodus as we once again read verses 1-11, having found your place,

Text

Please stand in reverence for the reading of God’s Holy, Inerrant, Infallible, Authoritative, Sufficient, Complete and Certain Word

Exodus 33:1–11 LSB

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go! Go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘To your seed I will give it.’ “And I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. “Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst because you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.” Then the people heard this sad word and went into mourning; and none of them put on his ornaments. So Yahweh said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would consume you. So now, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.’” So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought Yahweh would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. And it happened whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. And it happened whenever Moses entered the tent, that the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and Yahweh would speak with Moses. And all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent. And all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus Yahweh used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, and his attendant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Our Prayer for this morning is adapted from “Piercing the Heavens; Prayers of the Puritans” entitled “To Approach an Infinite God” by Herman Witsius:

O Infinite and Majestic Lord, Who dwells in unapproachable light and yet stoops to commune with man, we bow before You as Moses did, desiring Your presence above all else. You are vast beyond measure, perfect in holiness, and unsearchable in wisdom. No mind can contain You, no heart can fathom the depths of Your mercy and justice.

Lord, we confess that our understanding is but a flickering candle before the blazing sun of Your glory. We think of You too lightly, and often come too casually before Your throne. Teach us the reverent fear that delights in Your nearness while trembling at Your majesty.

Lead us, as You led Moses, not merely by Your angel, but by Your own presence. Let us know You—not in shadow or symbol—but in the brightness of Your revealed grace in Christ. Kindle within us a longing to behold Your glory and to be conformed to it.

For to know You is life eternal. Amen.

Outside the Camp

John Calvin writes:

Institutes of the Christian Religion Chapter VII: A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial

We are not our own; therefore, as far as possible, let us forget ourselves and the things that are ours. On the other hand, we are God’s; let us, therefore, live and die to him, (

As we open up our text for this week we begin our study in earnest with verse 7, which we briefly mentioned last week to drive home the point that God would not dwell among His people as a result of the unrepentant sin in their lives. We saw in verses 4 and 6 a display of the people demonstrating their sorrow and mourning that God would no longer dwell within their midst. Notice, however, in the final sentence of verse 7 that, although God would not dwell among His people, they were not expressly forbidden from coming to Him, it reads “And everyone who sought Yahweh would go out to the tent of meeting which is outside the camp.”

One of the challenges that this particular chapter of Exodus has generated among theologians is the question regarding this particular “tent of meeting” that is mentioned. In the original language a definite article, what we translate as “the” in English, is present which means that this tent was known in some way to the people. Some of taken this to mean that this is the tent of the Tabernacle, which has not yet been constructed, leading them to believe that this record may be wrongly placed within the text. However, I believe that this passage is exactly where the Holy Spirit intended it to be for the purpose of demonstrating something to us regarding the people of Israel, their response to God versus Moses’ response and what it should teach us as believers today.

One thing we know for sure from this passage is that this tent is used on multiple occasions for the purpose which is displayed for us here in verse 7, note how it says “Moses used to take” and “everyone who sought Yahweh would go”, describing past events in plural form. This adds to the confusion somewhat because it is clear that while this happened in the past and more than once, this is the first mention. I believe that this is simply explained by understanding that although the tabernacle, once constructed, could be raised and lowered in a timely manner, the original construction took some time. Recall all of the intricate details that are present, not only in the various implements, but also in the fabric that was used, all of which would have taken, even the most skilled craftsman time to complete. In the time that it took for construction of the tabernacle to be completed and the priesthood to be instituted Moses would have a place to meet with God.

What is of most importance here, however, is not how long or how often or even when this tent was in use, but the fact that when God declared to the people through Moses that He would not go with them, they mourned within the camp while Moses went out to meet with God. AW Pink writes:

Gleanings in Exodus Chapter 63: Outside the Camp

In this action of Israel’s leader we may discern the exercise of real faith. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (

The desire of Moses’ heart was to continue to hear, to continue to drink deeply from the flow of living water that has become a necessity to him and his life. How we should heed the response of Moses in this time. It was dark, the people were separated from God, yet Moses goes to the very place where God is, outside the camp, pitches his tent because he desires to be in the very presence of Almighty God… how often in our lives do we experience times of darkness and difficulty, where we feel far from the presence of God, our response in those times tells us much of our character as believers, or possibly demonstrates to us our lack to true faith and repentance. Do we, like the people simply mourn because God does not feel near, or is our response that of Moses, taking ourselves to where God is, where we can hear His word, be saturated with His love and grace and mercy and truth and stand in awe and wonder at His holiness? Be sure, be very sure, that you understand that to do so means that you inevitably will be confronted with the depths of your sin, you will be exposed, laid bare, that you deserve His wrath and judgement, but in that confrontation, in that exposure, in that realization, you will be overwhelmed by His grace and His mercy and His love.

For Moses, this meant going outside of the camp, for you and I, it means to simply open the Bible, the Sacred Scriptures, the written Word of the the Living God and plunge ourselves head first into its deep truths. John writing in Revelation writes: Revelation 10:10 “And I took the little scroll out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.” The prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel wrote:

Jeremiah 15:16 LSB

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your words became for me joy and gladness in my heart, For I have been called by Your name, O Yahweh God of hosts.

Ezekiel 2:8–3:3 LSB

“Now as for you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” Then I looked, and behold, a hand was sent forth to me; and behold, a scroll was in it. Then He spread it out before me, and it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, sighing, and woe. Then He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

The Effect of the Leader

When we truly encounter God’s Word, when we approach it openly and honestly, we will be confronted with truth. We should be challenged by what it teaches, regardless of the age of the believer or the length of time that one has been a believer. Moses had a deep desire to be in the presence of God, so much so that he was willing to go where God was, even when it meant going outside the camp, which would have been a place of relative safety. Notice lastly, regarding verse 7, there is an emphasis placed on the tent being pitched “a good distance” from the camp. The Hebrew word that is being translated here is one that is developed, theologically, in scripture. In other words, this is more than just descriptive of a location, it is also indicative of the fact that the people of Israel have forfeited the right to have God dwell among them. This word is also used of Jeremiah to describe the state of those who have transgressed the law of God, he writes: Jeremiah 2:5 “Thus says Yahweh, “What injustice did your fathers find in Me, That they went far from Me And walked after vanity and became vain?”

The word itself demonstrates a sense of almost being unreachable, almost… Moses demonstrates as any leader should, the path the people should take. As previously mentioned, the final clause of verse 7 makes it clear that the people could come to the tent, “all who sought after God” but from the remainder of the passage, at least for the moment, it is also clear that the people are not going.

Notice verse 8, Exodus 33:8 “And it happened whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent.” In stark contrast to the beginning of chapter 32, Moses has now gone from being a person they labeled as “this Moses” to someone they respected. The fact that they stood and watched demonstrates a sign of respect and reverence to the position that Moses has amongst the people. CA Coates writes:

Gleanings in Exodus Chapter 63: Outside the Camp

“The [people] stood at their tent doors, interested in Moses, and looking after him, and seeing the pillar of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent, but not going out! They seem to represent those who have reverence for divine things, and are interested in the truth, but who remain in the camp. God-fearing persons, but not knowing the presence of the Lord in its attractive and satisfying power”

Although they witnessed these things from afar, they did not dare, at this point, move forward towards the place. I am sure that there is some amount of fear and uncertainty remaining in the people, especially considering that God had relayed through Moses the message that if He was to spend one moment among them it would result in their destruction, but I believe that it goes beyond that. The people are much like many people today, they like the idea of God’s presence, His protection, His favor as long as it does not come with any commands or demands. They want the love of God without the holiness, or the wrath. They want His favor and protection without His demand for obedience. They want the things of God that they see as beneficial without the things that they see as hindrances.

As many of you are probably aware there were protests around the country yesterday. I saw one sign that read something like “Justice and Equality for everyone” and my immediate thought was two-fold. They do not really know what they are asking for and they do not really mean everyone. First of all, true justice means that we get what we deserve, whether that means we get the punishment of men from the laws of men that we transgress or punishment from God for His laws that we transgress. Truly, they want neither. I want to be clear here, this is not political, this is eternal. As I have often said, there are only two classifications of people, those that are God’s and those that are not. This is not a matter of political part, ethnicity, country of origin, cultural group, this is about those who reject Christ and those who by faith in Him are saved. Just as true justice means that we get what we deserve, equality for everyone means that we are all held to the same standard, period. What so many fail to realize is that THIS is the the standard, the word of God.

This is the standard by which we are all held accountable. As the people watched Moses enter the tent they see a visible manifestation of God in the form of the pillar descending upon the tent. We know that God is speaking with Moses, verse 11 describes it beautifully as a conversation between friends, and intimacy that clearly demonstrates the love of God for His people. As they witnessed these events, they worshipped, as they had previously bowed before the golden calf they now bowed before Yahweh.

A clear and right view of God results in only one thing, submission to Him and worship of Him. While the people did not draw near, they witnessed God’s presence coming down. I am again reminded by the effect of the real presence of God on the people of God.

Transformed by the Word

As I referenced a few moments ago, verse 11 contains a beautiful description of this interaction between God and Moses when it says that Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, “just as a man speaks to His friend”. There is so much to rejoice over in this one verse. First, the reality that God and Man could be reconciled to the point where this level of communion was possible. It is necessary to ensure that we are all clear that we deal with the idiom contained in this verse where it says “fact to face”. Later in verse 20 of this chapter we will hear God tell Moses that it is not possible to see His face and live. This helps us to understand that this “face to face” is a descriptive term used to demonstrate the level of intimacy and not a literal face to face meeting. The other thing that we must rejoice over in this verse, that is also accomplished by this term face to face, is that this tells us that Moses is receiving the word of God, literally and verbally. This is important on many levels, initially it is important to understand as we progress from here into the rest of the chapter. It is also important as we deal with the reality of the Word of God and its implications, not only in the lives of the Israelites, but also in our lives today.

We will deal more with this in future verses but one of the primary points of this entire chapter is the demonstration that through the grace of God the promise of God is renewed to His people by means of special revelation. Broadly speaking there are only two types of revelation, general and special. General revelation is that revelation of God that can be seen by all people at all times, as demonstrated by the created order, the providence of God and even the conscience of men. Special revelation on the other hand is a direct and saving self-disclosure of God that reveals to His people regarding exactly who God is, who we are, and God’s redemptive plan. Ultimately the primary source of special revelation is the Word of God, but contained within His word we have the miracles that occur, the theophanies (such as the cloud in today’s passage), the Word made flesh, and God speaking directly to His people through those chosen to record His words.

As we will develop this more in the coming weeks, what we need to see here, this morning, is that within this one passage we have two specific forms of special revelation, a theophany, which we have already addressed, and God speaking directly to Moses.

This poses the question: What will we do with God’s self-disclosure? If the Lord has drawn near in the cloud and spoken His Word to Moses, and if in these last days He has spoken to us in His Son (Heb. 1:1–2), neutrality is impossible. Special revelation is never mere information; it is summons. The same God who would consume a stiff-necked people in a moment invites sinners to approach by a mediator and live. For Israel, that mediator was Moses at the tent; for us, it is the crucified and risen Christ, the Living Word attested by the written Word. To stand afar and admire the pillar is not the same as drawing near in repentance and obedience. The people rose and watched; Moses entered and was transformed.

And this is the design of revelation still: not to leave us as spectators but to make us worshipers who “eat the scroll,” who receive the Word so deeply that its sweetness humbles us and its bitterness of conviction heals us. By that Word the Spirit exposes our sin, steadies our steps on the narrow path, and conforms us to the image of the Son. So let us not be content with reverence at our tent doors. Let us go outside the camp—to the place of meeting God has appointed—opening the Scriptures, bowing beneath their authority, and finding in Christ the presence that turns the shadow of death into morning. Only then will we be a people shaped, steadied, and sent by the voice of the Lord our God.

Conclusion

Beloved, the scene before us is both sobering and full of hope. Israel’s camp is heavy with mourning, the pillar descends outside the boundaries of their comfort, and Moses goes where God is—into the presence that both exposes and restores. Bunyan’s pilgrim felt the heat of hell’s mouth and the hiss of blasphemous whispers, and yet he took up the weapon called “All-prayer” and pressed on. Moses, too, will not remain a spectator. He pitches his tent “a good distance” from the camp because distance from sin is the path to nearness with God. There the Lord speaks with him “as a man speaks to his friend,” and there the Word of God becomes life, direction, and renewal.

We have said that special revelation is not mere information but summons. God’s self-disclosure calls for a movement of heart and life—away from stiff-necked self-rule and toward humble, obedient communion. The people watch from their doorways and worship from afar; Moses enters and is changed. This is the dividing line in every generation: will we remain admirers at the threshold, or will we become worshipers who approach by the Mediator God provides? For Israel, that mediator was Moses at a temporary tent. For us, it is Jesus Christ—crucified, risen, and reigning—who is Himself the true and living Tent where God meets man. Through Him the Scriptures become honey to the mouth and holy fire to the conscience; through Him the Spirit steadies our steps on the narrow path; through Him the shadow of death becomes morning.

Therefore, let us go “outside the camp” to Christ (Heb. 13:13), opening His Word, bowing beneath its authority, and answering its call. Let reverence give way to repentance, repentance to obedience, and obedience to delight in the presence of God. The God who would consume the impenitent in a moment is the very God who welcomes sinners through His Son and transforms them by His Spirit.

Here is the question that demands an answer: Will you stay at your tent door—respectful but distant—or will you come to Christ, draw near by faith, and be changed by the Word that speaks life? The morning has broken. The Lord who turned the valley’s shadow into light still calls. Come.

Closing Prayer

Most holy and gracious Father, We bless You that, though our sins deserve Your judgment, You have made a way for nearness through the Mediator, Jesus Christ. We confess how often we stand at our tent doors—respectful, interested, even moved—and yet remain distant from obedient fellowship. Forgive our stiff necks, our cautious reverence, and our reluctant hearts.

Grant us the courage of faith to go where You are, to seek Your face in Your Word, and to yield ourselves wholly to Your will. By Your Spirit, make Your Scriptures sweet to our taste and searching to our souls—sweet, that we may delight in Your ways; searching, that we may turn from every false path. Where fear whispers and accusations arise, teach us the weapon of “All-prayer,” that we may walk in the strength of the Lord our God.

Draw near to the broken, steady the wavering, and embolden the repentant. Turn our mourning into worship that is not from afar but face-to-face through Christ. Conform us to Your Son; make our homes and this congregation a people shaped by Your presence—humble, holy, and hopeful.

Today, O Lord, set our feet on the narrow way. Keep us from the ditch of error and the mire of compromise. Lead us by Your Word and Spirit until the shadow yields to morning, and we behold Your glory in the face of Jesus Christ forever.

We ask this in the name of our Redeemer and Friend, Jesus Christ. Amen.