Éxodo 33

1 El Señor
le dijo a Moisés: «Váyanse, tú y el pueblo que sacaste de la tierra de Egipto. Suban a la tierra que juré dar a Abraham, Isaac y Jacob. A ellos les dije: “Daré esta tierra a sus descendientes”.

2 Enviaré un ángel delante de ti para expulsar a los cananeos, los amorreos, los hititas, los ferezeos, los heveos y los jebuseos.

3 Suban a la tierra donde fluyen la leche y la miel. Sin embargo, yo no los acompañaré, porque son un pueblo terco y rebelde. Si lo hiciera, seguramente los destruiría en el camino».

4 Cuando los israelitas oyeron estas palabras tan duras, hicieron duelo y dejaron de usar joyas y ropa fina.

5 Pues el Señor
había dicho a Moisés que les dijera: «Ustedes son un pueblo terco y rebelde. Si yo los acompañara, aunque fuera un solo instante, los destruiría en el camino. Quítense las joyas y la ropa fina mientras decido qué hacer con ustedes».

6 Así que, desde el momento que partieron del monte Sinaí,
los israelitas dejaron de usar joyas y de ponerse ropa fina.

7 Moisés tenía la costumbre de armar la carpa de reunión
a cierta distancia del campamento y toda persona que quería hacer alguna petición al Señor
iba a la carpa de reunión que estaba fuera del campamento.

8 Cada vez que Moisés se dirigía a la carpa de reunión, toda la gente se levantaba y permanecía de pie a la entrada de su propia carpa. Todos seguían a Moisés con la vista hasta que entraba en la carpa.

9 Cuando Moisés entraba en la carpa, la columna de nube descendía y se quedaba en el aire a la entrada mientras el Señor
hablaba con Moisés.

10 Cuando el pueblo notaba que la nube se detenía a la entrada de la carpa, cada persona se paraba a la entrada de su propia carpa y se inclinaba.

11 Dentro de la carpa de reunión, el Señor
hablaba con Moisés cara a cara, como cuando alguien habla con un amigo. Después, Moisés regresaba al campamento, mientras que su asistente, el joven Josué, hijo de Nun, permanecía en la carpa de reunión.

12 Moisés ve la gloria del Señor
Un día Moisés dijo al Señor
:
—Tú me has estado diciendo: “Lleva a este pueblo a la Tierra Prometida”. Pero no me has dicho a quién enviarás conmigo. Me has dicho: “Yo te conozco por tu nombre y te miro con agrado”.

13 Si es cierto que me miras con buenos ojos, permíteme conocer tus caminos, para que pueda comprenderte más a fondo y siga gozando de tu favor. Y recuerda que esta nación es tu propio pueblo.

14 El Señor
le respondió:
—Yo mismo iré contigo, Moisés, y te daré descanso; todo te saldrá bien.

15 Entonces Moisés dijo:
—Si tú mismo no vienes con nosotros, no nos hagas salir de este lugar.

16 ¿Cómo se sabrá que me miras con agrado —a mí y a tu pueblo— si no vienes con nosotros? Pues tu presencia con nosotros es la que nos separa —a tu pueblo y a mí— de todos los demás pueblos de la tierra.

17 El Señor
contestó a Moisés:
—Ciertamente haré lo que me pides, porque te miro con agrado y te conozco por tu nombre.

18 Moisés respondió:
—Te suplico que me muestres tu gloriosa presencia.

19 El Señor
respondió:
—Haré pasar delante de ti toda mi bondad y delante de ti proclamaré mi nombre, Yahveh.
Pues tendré misericordia de quien yo quiera y mostraré compasión con quien yo quiera.

20 Sin embargo, no podrás ver directamente mi rostro, porque nadie puede verme y seguir con vida.

21 El Señor
siguió diciendo:
—Párate cerca de mí, sobre esta roca.

22 Cuando pase mi gloriosa presencia, te esconderé en la grieta de la roca y te cubriré con mi mano hasta que yo haya pasado.

23 Después retiraré la mano y dejaré que me veas por detrás; pero no se verá mi rostro.

Éxodo 33 Commentary

Chapter 33

The Lord refuses to go with Israel. (1-6) The tabernacle of Moses removed without the camp. (7-11) Moses desires to see the glory of God. (12-23)

Verses 1-6 Those whom God pardons, must be made to know what their sin deserved. "Let them go forward as they are;" this was very expressive of God's displeasure. Though he promises to make good his covenant with Abraham, in giving them Canaan, yet he denies them the tokens of his presence they had been blessed with. The people mourned for their sin. Of all the bitter fruits and consequences of sin, true penitents most lament, and dread most, God's departure from them. Canaan itself would be no pleasant land without the Lord's presence. Those who parted with ornaments to maintain sin, could do no less than lay aside ornaments, in token of sorrow and shame for it.

Verses 7-11 Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp. This seems to have been a temporary building, set up for worship, and at which he judged disputes among the people. The people looked after him; they were very desirous to be at peace with God, and concerned to know what would come to pass. The cloudy pillar which had withdrawn from the camp when it was polluted with idolatry, now returned. If our hearts go forth toward God to meet him, he will graciously come to meet us.

Verses 12-23 Moses is very earnest with God. Thus, by the intercession of Christ, we are not only saved from ruin, but become entitled to everlasting happiness. Observe here how he pleads. We find grace in God's sight, if we find grace in our hearts to guide and quicken us in the way of our duty. Moses speaks as one who dreaded the thought of going forward without the Lord's presence. God's gracious promises, and mercy towards us, should not only encourage our faith, but also excite our fervency in prayer. Observe how he speeds. See, in a type, Christ's intercession, which he ever lives to make for all that come to God by him; and that it is not by any thing in those for whom he intercedes. Moses then entreats a sight of God's glory, and is heard in that also. A full discovery of the glory of God, would overwhelm even Moses himself. Man is mean, and unworthy of it; weak, and could not bear it; guilty, and could not but dread it. The merciful display which is made in Christ Jesus, alone can be borne by us. The Lord granted that which would abundantly satisfy. God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty. Upon the rock there was a fit place for Moses to view the goodness and glory of God. The rock in Horeb was typical of Christ the Rock; the Rock of refuge, salvation, and strength. Happy are they who stand upon this Rock. The cleft may be an emblem of Christ, as smitten, crucified, wounded, and slain. What follows, denotes the imperfect knowledge of God in the present state, even as revealed in Christ; for this, when compared with the heavenly sight of him. is but like seeing a man that is gone by, whose back only is to be seen. God in Christ, as he is, even the fullest and brightest displays of his glory, grace, and goodness, are reserved to another state.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 33

This chapter informs us, that the Lord refusing to go with the people, only sending an angel with them, they are filled with concern, and troubled, Ex 33:1-6. Moses upon this pitched the tabernacle without the camp, where everyone that sought the Lord went; Moses entered into it himself, and the Lord talked to him in a friendly manner in the cloudy pillar that stood at the door of it, and the people worshipped, every man at his own tent door; all which foreboded good, and tended to reconciliation, Ex 33:7-11. Moses improved the opportunity, and entreats the presence of God to go with them, which was granted, Ex 33:12-17 and that he might have a sight of the glory of God; and this is promised to pass before him, he being put into the cleft of the rock, Ex 33:18-23.