- 90-
Horeb onward" (33:6). Israel was, so to speak, in permanent mourning, ever after
itsgreat national sin. Next, as the Lord would not personally be in the midst of Israel,
Moses removedthe tent - probably his own -outside the camp, that there he might
receive the Divinecommunications, when "the cloudy pillar descended," "and Jehovah
talked with Moses." Mosescalled this "the tent of meeting" (rendered in the
Authorized Version "the tabernacle of thecongregation:" ver. 7). It is scarcely
necessary to say, that this was not "the Tabernacle" (as theAuthorized Version might
lead one to infer), since the latter was not yet constructed.
To this "tent of meeting" all who were of the true Israel, and who regarded Jehovah
not merely astheir national God, but owned Him personally and felt the need of Him,
were wont to go out. Thismust not be looked upon as either a protest or an act of
separation on their part, but as evidence oftrue repentance and of their desire to meet
with God, who no longer was in the camp of Israel.Moreover, all the people, when
they saw the cloudy pillar descend to Moses, "rose up andworshipped." Altogether,
this was perhaps the period of greatest heart-softening during Israel'swanderings in the
wilderness.
And God graciously had respect to it. He had already assured Moses that he stood in
specialrelationship to Him ("I know thee by name"), and that his prayer for Israel had
been heard ("thouhast also found grace in My sight"). But as yet the former sentence
stood, to the effect that an angel,not Jehovah Himself, was to be Israel's future guide.
Under these circumstances Moses nowentreated Jehovah to show him His way, that is,
His present purpose in regard to Israel, adding, thatif God would bring them into the
Land of Promise, He would "consider that this is Thy people," andhence He their God
and King. This plea also prevailed, and the Lord once more promised that Hisown
presence would go with them, and that He Himself would give them the rest of
Canaan (ver.14; comp. Deuteronomy 3:20; Hebrews 4:8). And Moses gave thanks by
further prayer, even moreearnest than before, for the blessing now again vouchsafed
(vers. 15, 16).
But one thing had become painfully evident to Moses by what had happened.
However faithful in hisMaster's house, (Hebrews 3:5) he was but a servant; and a
servant knoweth not the will of hismaster. The threat of destruction if Jehovah
remained among Israel, and the alternative of sendingwith them an angel, must have
cast a gloom over his future mediatorship. It was, indeed, only that ofa servant,
however highly favored, not of a son. (Hebrews 3:5, 6) Oh, that he could quite
understandthe Being and character of the God of Israel - see, not His likeness, but His
glory! (Exodus 33:18)Then would all become clear, and, with fuller light, joyous
assurance fill his heart. That such was thereal meaning of Moses' prayer, "Show me
Thy glory" (ver. 18), appears from the mode in which theLord answered it. "And He
said, I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaimthe Name of
(^)