God told Moses to lead the people toward the promised land and said He would send an angel, but He would not go among them because they were stiff-necked. The people mourned and took off their jewelry. Moses pitched a tent outside the camp, called the Tent of Meeting, and the pillar of cloud came down at its door as God spoke with Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses pleaded, If your presence doesn't go with me, don't carry us up from here. God promised, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Moses asked to see God's glory. God placed him in a cleft of the rock and let His goodness pass by, showing His back but not His face.
1Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people that you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
2I will send an angel before you; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
3Go to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I consume you on the way.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
4When the people heard this evil news, they mourned; and no one put on his jewelry.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
5Yahweh had said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go up among you for one moment, I would consume you. Therefore now take off your jewelry from you, that I may know what to do to you.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
6The children of Israel stripped themselves of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
7Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far away from the camp, and he called it “The Tent of Meeting.” Everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
8When Moses went out to the Tent, all the people rose up, and stood, everyone at their tent door, and watched Moses, until he had gone into the Tent.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
9When Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, stood at the door of the Tent, and Yahweh spoke with Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
10All the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent, and all the people rose up and worshiped, everyone at their tent door.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
11Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
12Moses said to Yahweh, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people;’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
13Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your way, now, that I may know you, so that I may find favor in your sight; and consider that this nation is your people.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
14He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
15Moses said to him, “If your presence doesn’t go with me, don’t carry us up from here.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
16For how would people know that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Isn’t it that you go with us, so that we are separated, I and your people, from all the people who are on the surface of the earth?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
17Yahweh said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
18Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
19He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
20He said, “You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
21Yahweh also said, “Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
22It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
23then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org
Worksheets
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Moses set up a tent outside the camp. He called it the Tent of Meeting. When Moses went in, the tall cloud came down to the door. God talked with Moses like a friend talks to a friend.
Moses prayed that God would go with them. If God did not go, he did not want to leave. God said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
Moses asked, Please show me your glory. God put Moses in a crack in a big rock. He covered Moses with His hand as His glory passed by. Then Moses saw God's back, but not His face.
Memory Verse
“He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””
Exodus 33:14 (WEB)
Show What You Know
Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.
What did Moses call the tent?
The Tent of MeetingIn a crack in a big rockThe tall cloud
What came down to the door of the tent?
The tall cloudIn a crack in a big rockThe Tent of Meeting
How did God talk with Moses?
What did God promise Moses?
Where did God put Moses?
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.
God told them to go up to the land he promised, and he would send an angel before them. But he said, I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people. When the people heard this sad news, they mourned. No one put on their jewelry.
Moses set up a tent outside the camp and called it the Tent of Meeting. When Moses went in, the pillar of cloud came down and stood at the door. All the people stood and worshiped at their tent doors. God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Moses' young helper Joshua stayed at the tent.
Moses said, If your presence doesn't go with me, don't carry us up from here. God said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. God said he knew Moses by name. Moses said, Please show me your glory. God said, I will make all my goodness pass before you. But Moses could not see God's face and live. God would put Moses in a cleft of the rock and cover him with his hand. Then Moses would see God's back.
Memory Verse
“Yahweh spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. He turned again into the camp, but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, didn’t depart from the Tent.”
Exodus 33:11 (WEB)
Answer the Questions
Why did God first say He would not go among them?
How did the people show they were sad?
What did the people do when the cloud came down?
Who stayed at the tent?
Why could Moses not see God's face?
Story Order
Write what happened in each box.
1
2
3
4
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.
After the golden calf, God said He would send an angel but not go with the people. Moses knew that the promised land without God was not worth having. God's presence is the greatest blessing.
Moses prayed boldly, and God said, My presence will go with you. God is gracious and answers prayer. God knew Moses by name.
Moses wanted to see God's glory. God showed him His goodness. In the New Testament, John writes that no one has seen God at any time, but the one and only Son has made him known (John 1:18). In the New Testament, John says we saw God's glory in Jesus (John 1:14).
Show What You Know
What did Moses know about the promised land without God?
What did God promise after Moses prayed?
What did God show Moses when he asked to see His glory?
Where do we see God's glory, according to John 1:18?
Think About It
Why is God's presence better than any gift He could give?
How can you seek God's presence each day?
Memory Verse
“He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””
Exodus 33:14 (WEB)
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Prayer
Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.
Exodus 33 shows the aftermath of the golden calf. God offers Israel the land, an angel and victory, but not His own presence among them, lest I consume you on the way (33:3). His holiness and their sin cannot dwell together. The people mourn and strip off their ornaments. Their gold earrings had been used to make the calf (32:2-4). True repentance grieves the loss of fellowship with God.
Moses meets God in a temporary Tent of Meeting outside the camp. There God speaks face to face, as a man speaks to his friend (33:11), an expression of close fellowship. Moses intercedes boldly: If your presence doesn't go with me, don't carry us up from here (33:15). He understands that God's presence is what makes Israel distinct from all other nations (33:16). God grants the request: My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
Moses then asks, Please show me your glory. God answers by proclaiming His name and His goodness: I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy (33:19). Paul quotes this in Romans 9:15 to show that mercy is God's free gift. God shields Moses in the cleft of the rock because no one can see His face and live. Christians have read this as a picture too; hymns like Rock of Ages picture Christ as the rock where sinners hide safely. In the New Testament, Paul says the glory of God shines in Jesus and in a face we can behold (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Show What You Know
Why would God not go among the people at first?
What does face to face, as a man speaks to his friend, express?
According to 33:16, what made Israel distinct?
How does Paul use 33:19 in Romans 9:15?
Where does 2 Corinthians 4:6 say God's glory shines?
Word Bank Fill-In
Use the word bank to fill in each blank.
friendrestwithGodTent
offers Israel the land, an angel and victory, but not His own presence among them, lest I consume you on the way (33:3).
True repentance grieves the loss of fellowship God.
Moses meets God in a temporary of Meeting outside the camp.
There God speaks face to face, as a man speaks to his (33:11), an expression of close fellowship.
God grants the request: My presence will go with you, and I will give you .
Think About It
Would you rather have God's blessings without His presence, or His presence itself? Why?
What does it mean to you to hide in Christ, the Rock?
Memory Verse
“He said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim Yahweh’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.””
Exodus 33:19 (WEB)
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Prayer
Dear God, thank You for today's Bible story. Help me to . Amen.