"When Moshe came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he didn’t realize that the skin of his face was sending out rays of light as a result of his talking with Adonai.”
Exodus 34:29
Have you ever played laser tag? I played my first game in college on a community date night. My mission was to hit anyone I could, and that included my date. The only problem was that I stuck out like a sore thumb. I failed to understand that night that although I look good in white, I was going to glow in the dark. With the black lights broadcasting my glow, I became the easy target for everyone playing.
Moshe had a similar experience. No he didn't play laser tag, but he did glow. The Torah tells us in Exodus 34:29-35 that when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai after being with the LORD, his face was radiant. In fact, it was so radiant that when Moshe spoke to the people, he covered his face with a veil. The veil was not worn when he was in Adonai's presence, however.
As I read this, there are a few things that come alive to me that I want to share with you. The first is that the Torah records Moshe speaking with Adonai, not to Him. "But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with Him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Isra’elites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant." (Ex 34:34-35a). When Moshe and He spoke, it was with Adonai. But when Moshe and the people spoke, it was to the people. I personally think that too many times we speak to Adonai and with others.
Another lesson that speaks to me personally is within the veil. Now although Moshe wore the veil in the presence of the people, he did not wear it in the presence of Adonai. This veil was not the prayer shawl or tallit, but simply a veil (masvah) that kept the glow from being too much for others around him. I point this out as the tallit also was used to cover one's face in the prayer closet. However, I am simply struck by the fact that in the presence of Adonai, Moshe had no hindrance. The veil was not worn when speaking to Adonai so that Moshe and He were able to speak without any barriers.
The last point, and most obvious to see, is that simple fact that because Moshe had been in His presence, his face shined. In all honesty, keeping a daily (or mostly daily) devotional site keeps me constantly in God's Word. I cannot be a hypocrite and challenge you to be in the Word if I am not in the Word myself. And as a parent, I cannot preach to my children about things that I also am unwilling to change. But the fact of Moshe's face glowing as a result of being with Adonai makes me desire the same. I want to shine so bright that I do point others to Him. And I don't mean this in a 'holier than thou' way, but in a way where I truly shine for Adonai and others are brought to Him by the light of God I portray.
I became an unhidden target that night playing laser tag. I tried to hide. But as hard as I tried, I was seen by all. But oh, how I desire the same, now, with a little twist. I desire to not be hidden; to let the light of Adonai shine in me. I want to be a reflection of His glory and presence in and on me. I want my face to shine like Moshe's. It is only in being in His presence that this desire will ever come about.
So I challenge you now in the three areas of today's thoughts. First, are you talking with Adonai, or to Him? Second, when you come to Him, are you covering yourself because of fear of your past, or convictions of your present? Or are you coming without a veil so as to seek His face and risk the shine? Only after we remove the veil in these moments with Adonai will we risk the last piece of our challenge, to be told that we are too shiny. Oh how I would rather be too shiny for Him than too dim that others do not see Adonai in me. How about you?
Exodus 34:27-35
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