Exodus 34:18-35
The Face That Shone
Read the passage
18You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, you are to eat unleavened bread as I commanded you. For in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.
19The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep.
20You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.
21Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in the seasons of plowing and harvesting, you must rest.
22And you are to celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
23Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
24For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders, and no one will covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.
25Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to Me along with anything leavened, and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Feast remain until morning.
26Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”
27The LORD also said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.”
28So Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
29And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD.
30Aaron and all the Israelites looked at Moses, and behold, his face was radiant. And they were afraid to approach him.
31But Moses called out to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke to them.
32And after this all the Israelites came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.
33When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.
34But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would remove the veil until he came out. And when he came out, he would tell the Israelites what he had been commanded,
35and the Israelites would see that the face of Moses was radiant. So Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
God renews instructions for Israel's life with Him: remember the rescue from Egypt at Unleavened Bread, redeem the firstborn sons, keep the harvest feasts, and bring the best firstfruits. Even during plowing and harvest, the people must rest on the seventh day. The busiest season is not an exception to His command.
God also promises protection for the land when the men go up to appear before Him three times a year. Their worship calls for trust in His care. Moses receives the covenant words during forty days and nights with the LORD.
When Moses comes down carrying the tablets, his face is radiant from speaking with God, though he does not know it. Aaron and the people are afraid to come near. Moses calls them back and tells them what the LORD has commanded. Only after speaking does he cover his face with a veil.
The shining face is remarkable, but Moses' task is to give the people God's words. Each time he returns from speaking with the LORD, he delivers the commands to Israel. Their response must go beyond being impressed by the messenger: they are to hear and obey the God who has spoken.
Questions
1 Does God allow Israel to abandon Sabbath rest during harvest?
AnswerNo. He specifically requires rest even during plowing and harvesting. The urgency of the season does not cancel His command.
2 Why is Moses' face radiant when he returns?
AnswerHe has been speaking with the LORD. He is not aware of the radiance, but Aaron and the Israelites see it and are afraid to approach.
3 When does Moses put on and remove the veil?
AnswerHe covers his face after speaking to the people. He removes the veil when he goes in before the LORD, then delivers God's commands to Israel before covering his face again.
4 How can we listen to a Bible teacher without becoming preoccupied with the person?
AnswerPay attention to the Scripture being explained and ask whether the message is faithful to it. Respect the teacher, but let God's word determine what we believe and do.
What This Means for Us
Moses' shining face makes God's glory visible, but it also reinforces that the glory belongs to God. The messenger must keep returning to the message.
Let your household measure devotion by truthfulness, patience, and service. A changed life matters more than a religious appearance.
Prayer
We pray: God of glory, let time with you make us more faithful rather than more impressive. Help us speak your words clearly, reflect your goodness without seeking attention, and return to you when we have failed. Amen.
Your reading
Keep your place.
Save this passage to your private reading history.
Sign in to save your reading