Holiness of God

He Became What We Are

Cyril of Jerusalem, Archbishop of Jerusalem, wrote: “Since we could not look upon or enjoy Him as He was, He became what we are, that so we might be permitted to enjoy Him. For if we cannot look full on the sun, which was made on the fourth day, could we behold God its Creator?”

Implicit in the Archbishop’s remarks is the notion of the all-surpassing holiness of God

That he needed to strip Himself of Himself before coming into contact with us is indicative of His otherness.

In fact, in Exodus 33, God, I believe, telegraphs the means by which we, humanity, would come to know God—through His filtered presence.

Moses could not see the unfiltered presence of God, but, instead, His filtered presence

What do I mean by this? Well, let’s take a look at Exodus 33:12-23, where we encounter this notion of a filtered presence.

Moses Intercedes

12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’

13 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people.”

14 And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.

16 “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”

18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”

19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”

21 Then the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;

22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

23 “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

The uniqueness and otherness of God is on full display in this episode. Now the actual event takes place in the following chapter. When God passes by Moses, He shields Him (Moses) from the unfiltered glory. For if YHWH did not hide Moses, he (Moses) would have been reduced to ashes. What is interesting about this episode is that which has been made visible to Moses