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Exodus 33:7–11

“When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses” (Ex. 33:9).

Due to the Israelites’ idolatry when they worshiped the golden calf, the Lord decided to put some distance between Himself and His people. He said that they would still take possession of the promised land but that He would no longer dwell among them (Ex. 32:1–33:6). This would be only a temporary distancing, for ultimately the Lord would dwell in the tabernacle in the midst of Israel (see Ex. 40:34–38). Yet for the time being, Israel experienced a greater separation from God than they had previously known.

This does not mean that the Lord made Himself completely inaccessible to His people. As we see in today’s passage, God continued to be available to the Israelites, albeit not directly among them. Exodus 33:7–11 describes a “tent of meeting” that Moses set up outside the camp of Israel, where he would go to speak to the Lord “face to face.” Note that although in Hebrew the word for “tent of meeting” is the same word for “tabernacle,” the tent described in Exodus 33 was not the tabernacle described in chapters 25–30 and constructed in chapters 35–40. Instead, this was a plainer structure used to remind the Israelites that there had been a disruption in their relationship with God.

The tent of meeting provided a place where Moses could commune with the Lord and receive His revelation, but it was also a place where the ordinary Israelites could seek God. Exodus 33:7 notes that “everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.” Essentially, this meant that when the people had questions or conflicts, they could go to Moses and he would meet with the Lord in the tent of meeting to get an answer. This is remarkable evidence of our Creator’s grace to the people in that moment of history; He withdrew from them somewhat but was still willing to hear from them. It would take some faith on the part of the Israelites to engage in conversation with the Lord, mediated by Moses, for the tent of meeting was located “far off from the camp” (Ex. 33:7). Only those who believed that God was there and would hear their prayers would make the journey to the tent of meeting. Moses’ work at the tent of meeting also helped preserve Israel as a worshiping community. Although the tent was far off, the Israelites could evidently see God, in the pillar of cloud, go to the tent to meet with Moses. When this happened, they all paused to worship the Lord (Ex. 33:9–10).

Coram Deo Living before the face of God

God is never so far away from His people that He is unwilling to hear them when they approach Him in faith. Even if we have sinned grievously, the Lord will always receive us when we turn to Him in trust, repenting of and forsaking our sins. If God feels far away from you this day, know that He is willing and ready to hear you when you come to Him through Christ and seek His face.


for further study
  • 2 Chronicles 7:14
  • Isaiah 55:6–7
  • Daniel 9:1–19
  • 1 John 1:8–10

    Shepherding with Administration

    Moses Prays for God’s Presence

    Keep Reading A Reasonable Faith

    From the November 2022 Issue
    Nov 2022 Issue