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Sermon Outline

Exodus

“Please, Show Me Your Glory”

Lesson #12 for September 20, 2025

Scriptures:Exodus 33:7-34:35;Deuteronomy 18:15,18; John 3:16; 17:3; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 2:4.

  1. What is God’s glory? Why did Moses request to see God’s glory?

[From the Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide=T-BSG:] Four themes are of utmost importance in the book of Exodus: (1) God’s presence; (2) God’s salvation/deliverance; (3) God’s guidance; and (4) God’s glory. The last theme is particularly developed in Exodus 33 and Exodus 34.

On one occasion, Moses realized that he did not know the Lord as he should, so he asked Him: “ ‘If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you’ ” (Exod. 33:13, NIV). He humbly desired to know God better; so, he boldly requested: “ ‘Show me your glory’ ” (Exod. 33:18, NIV). God kindly responded to Moses that He would show him His goodness (Exod. 33:19). This divine response reveals that God’s glory is His goodness. Later we learn that when Moses is with the Lord on Mount Sinai, God reveals to him His character (Exod. 34:6, 7). In other words, God’s glory is His character, and the Lord’s goodness is a summary of God’s character.―T-BSG* 159.†‡§ [Was Moses being presumptuous in asking to see God’s glory?]‡

[From the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide=BSG:] We all need to grow in our walk with God. Without growth, we are dead…. We need to be willing to grow. We are daily in God’s university, where there is no graduation but a constant learning process. In each stage of growth, you can be perfect if you allow God to mold you into the person that He calls you, in Christ, to be.―BSG* for Sabbath Afternoon, September 13.†‡

2 Peter 3:18: But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.—American Bible Society. (©1992). The Holy Bible: The Good News Translation®* [GNT] (Today’s English Version) [TEV], Second Edition,2 Peter 3:18). Philadelphia: American Bible Society [abbreviated as Good News Bible-TEV* or GNB-TEV*].‡

[BSG:] Think of a school. If first-graders learn how to read and count to 100, they receive a passing grade because their knowledge is perfect at that stage and scale of growth. However, if this same level of knowledge, and no more, was detected in a high schooler, it would indicate a colossal failure in his or her education. It is similar with our growth in the grace and knowledge of God. In each stage of our development, we can be as perfect in our sphere as Christ was in His.

[In this lesson, we will] … study how Moses, through knowing and following God’s instructions, was growing in his walk with the Lord.―BSG* for Sabbath.†‡

  1. So, what was Moses asking for when he asked for God’s presence to be with them?
  2. While Moses was day by day trying to develop a better and better relationship with God, the children of Israel were dancing drunk and naked around the golden calf and claiming that it was YAHWEH. Moses response was:

Exodus 32:30-32: 30 The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin. But now I will again go up the mountain to the Lord; perhaps I can obtain forgiveness for your sin.” 31Moses then returned to the Lord and said, “These people have committed a terrible sin. They have made a god out of gold and worshiped it. 32Please forgive their sin; but if you won’t, then remove my name from the book in which you have written the names of your people.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

[BSG:] Yet, even after all this, Moses desired to know God’s character more concretely, and God soon gave him special insights to understand who He is. This knowledge Moses desired was not a mere intellectual understanding of God but an experiential knowledge of His person.

No wonder centuries later Jesus would say: “ ‘And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent’ ” (John 17:3, NKJV). What better way for God to make Himself known to humans than by becoming a human Himself?―BSG* for Monday, September 15.‡§

Leaving Mount Sinai: Would Israel Be Leaving Without the Lord?

[T-BSG:] God commands Israel to depart from Mount Sinai and go to the land that He had promised to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exod. 33:1). After almost a year’s stay at Sinai (Exod. 19:1,Num. 10:11), the Israelites need to go forward and continue their journey to the Promised Land. During their stay at Sinai, God made a covenant with them and desired to bring them to Himself. He gave them the Decalogue and many additional instructions on how to be a wise, just, kind, disciplined, and well-organized nation (Deut. 4:5–10). It is now time to move ahead. However, God declares: “ ‘I will not go with you’ ” (Exod. 33:3, NIV). This pronouncement was because of Israel’s golden calf apostasy. God’s holy presence in the midst of Israel was incompatible with the people’s stubborn disobedience and would cause their destruction.―T-BSG* 158.†‡§

  1. Would God really tell Israel to leave Mount Sinai and go toward the Promised Land WITHOUT Him? By the apostasy with the golden calf, did Israel so alienate themselves from God that they disqualified themselves from the guidance and protection of God?
  2. Why did God ask Moses to build the “tent of meeting” (NIV*) or “sacred Tent” (GNB-TEV*) or “Tent of the Lord’s presence” (GNB-TEV*) or “tabernacle of the congregation” (KJV*) or “tabernacle of meeting” (NKJV*) which was set up outside the camp and was different from the later carefully-constructed tabernacle or sacred Tent which contained the holy place, most holy place, and the covenant box (ark of the covenant)?

Exodus 33:7-11: 7 Whenever the people of Israel set up camp, Moses would take the sacred Tent and put it up some distance outside the camp. It was called the Tent of the Lord’s presence, and anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go out to it. 8Whenever Moses went out there, the people would stand at the door of their tents and watch Moses until he entered it. 9After Moses had gone in, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the door of the Tent, and the Lord would speak to Moses from the cloud. 10As soon as the people saw the pillar of cloud at the door of the Tent, they would bow down. 11The Lord would speak with Moses face-to-face, just as someone speaks with a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp. But the young man who was his helper, Joshua son of Nun, stayed in the Tent.—GNB-TEV.*†

[BSG:] We must not confuse “the tent of meeting” (built outside of Israel’s camp) with the tabernacle, which was later constructed and located in the center of the camp. We do not know how often Moses consulted with God in the tent of meeting. However, one thing we know for sure: Moses’ encounters with God resulted in a close friendship between them. “The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exod. 33:11, NKJV). A friend is a person we can consult and openly discuss most [sic] everything with and trust that he or she will never reveal it to others. A friend is one of the nicest things to have and one of the nicest persons to be.

As recorded in Exodus 19–34, the story of Moses is very instructive of how God transforms our lives. How did God build a relationship with this outstanding leader? A study of the life of Moses shows how he grew in his knowledge, not only of God’s power but of His love and character. This is a crucial component of having a relationship with God.―BSG* for Sunday, September 14.†‡§

  1. We all know that Moses was considered a friend of God, who spoke to Him face-to-face.

[BSG:] Prior to arriving at Mount Sinai, Moses was mightily used by God even while being prepared for a special leadership role. In the land of Midian, while taking care of sheep, God inspired him to write two books: Job and Genesis. Then, in the dramatic event of the burning bush, he was called by God to lead Israel out of Egypt. He saw the defeat of the Egyptian gods and the mighty Egyptian army in the Red Sea. He observed for many weeks how God led Israel from Egypt to Sinai. After the experience resulted in his shining face, he led Israel for another 39 years, to the brink of the Promised Land. The biblical message states that Moses was a faithful servant of God (Deut. 34:5,Josh. 1:1), an unimpaired light in the darkness, a model prophet by whom others would be measured (Deut. 18:15, 18). He was an agent of change, even though the people did not always follow his directions and words. When they did, they prospered.―BSG* for Sunday, September 14.†‡§

  1. In the New Testament, Jesus said that God the Father wants to be our Friend.

John 15:15: “I do not call you servants any longer, because servants do not know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father.”—GNB-TEV.*†

[BSG:] We may learn from Moses because his exceptional life story tells us what God can do when we let Him change us. What were some turning points in your walk with God, where you recognized how He worked powerfully in your life?―BSG* for Sunday, September 14.‡

[BSG:] After the golden calf apostasy, Moses interceded for God’s people and wanted to be assured that the Lord would continue leading them to the Promised Land. Deep down within his being, he also wanted to know the Lord better.―BSG* for Tuesday, September 16.‡

Exodus 33:12-17: 12 Moses said to the Lord, “It is true that you have told me to lead these people to that land, but you did not tell me whom you would send with me. You have said that you know me well and are pleased with me. 13Now if you are, tell me your plans, so that I may serve you and continue to please you. Remember also that you have chosen this nation to be your own.”

14 The Lord said, “I will go with you, and I will give you victory.”

15 Moses replied, “If you do not go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16How will anyone know that you are pleased with your people and with me if you do not go with us? Your presence with us will distinguish us from any other people on earth.”

17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will do just as you have asked, because I know you very well and I am pleased with you.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

[BSG:] Moses’ growth in the Lord was steady. He drew closer and closer to the Lord and sought to model himself after God’s image. One day when he was conversing with God in the tent of meeting, Moses suddenly realized that he did not know Him, and he uttered a specific prayer: “ ‘Show me now Your way, that I may know You’ ” (Exod. 33:13, NKJV). Moses was aware of his deep need to understand God on a new level. He discovered that the more he knew the Lord, the more he did not know Him. He recognized his need and wholeheartedly desired to know Him better. God willingly granted Moses’ wish.

By looking at the experiences of Moses so far, we can observe how Moses was drawn into a deeper, intimate relationship with the Lord and how he grew spiritually.

First, Moses climbed the mountain and “went up to God” (Exod. 19:3, NKJV). Then he went “to the top of the mountain” (Exod. 19:20, NKJV) and afterward approached the cloud, “the thick darkness” in which God resided (Exod. 20:21, NKJV)….

Then he spent another 40 days and nights with the Lord, interceding for sinners (Exod. 32:30–32,Deut. 9:18).―BSG* for Monday, September 15.†‡§

[T-BSG:] The phrase “found favor/pleased” (literally, “finding grace”) is a key expression in this passage (Exod. 33:12–17). It appears here five times (Exod. 33:12, 13, twice;Exod. 33:16, 17; and also inExod. 34:9). The previous use in Exodus of the term “favor/grace” was that the Israelites would find “favor” with the Egyptians because the Lord would “give” them “favor in the sight of the Egyptians” by giving them gold, silver, and clothing at the time of their departure from Egypt (Exod. 3:21,Exod. 11:3,Exod. 12:36, NKJV). The use of our passage is theological, especially in view ofExodus 34:6, in which it is explained that God is “gracious” (i.e., giving grace, or favor one does not deserve). Moses is humbly asking for God’s grace, a favorable response.―T-BSG* 159.‡§

“Please, Let Me See Your Glory” or “Please, Let Me See Your Presence”

Exodus 33:18-23: 18 Then Moses requested, “Please, let me see the dazzling light of your presence.”

19 The Lord answered, “I will make all my splendor pass before you and in your presence I will pronounce my sacred name. I am the Lord, and I show compassion and pity on those I choose. 20I will not let you see my face, because no one can see me and stay alive, 21but here is a place beside me where you can stand on a rock. 22When the dazzling light of my presence passes by, I will put you in an opening in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back but not my face.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

  1. Why do you think that seeing God’s face would destroy someone? Remember that Adam and Eve had “walked with God” in the Garden of Eden without any problems?

[BSG:] “Please, show me your glory,” Moses asked the Lord. In His mercy, the Lord did reveal His glory to him. However, when answering Moses’ request, God promised to show him His “goodness.” One can safely conclude that God’s glory is His goodness, that is, His character (see also Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 576; Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 414, 415; Prophets and Kings, p. 313).―BSG* for Tuesday, September 16.†‡§

[From the writings of Ellen G. White=EGW:] …. It is the glory of God to give His virtue to His children. He desires to see men and women reaching the highest standard; and when by faith they lay hold of the power of Christ, when they plead His unfailing promises, and claim them as their own, when with an importunity that will not be denied they seek for the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be made complete in Him.—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles* 530.2.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p127.2342&index=0]‡

[EGW:] Through trial and persecution the glory—the character—of God is revealed in His chosen ones. The believers in Christ, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. On earth they walk in narrow paths; they are purified in the furnace of affliction. They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial and experience bitter disappointments; but thus they learn the guilt and woe of sin, and they look upon it with abhorrence.—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles* 576.4.†‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p127.2537&index=0]‡

[EGW:] …. By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God. The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers. Thus they are to glorify God, to lighten the path to the Bridegroom’s home, to the city of God, to the marriage supper of the Lamb….

It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons* 414.2-415.3.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p15.1867&index=0]‡

[EGW:] Graciously the Lord responded, “I have pardoned according to thy word.” And then He imparted to Moses, in the form of a prophecy, a knowledge of His purpose concerning the final triumph of Israel. “As truly as I live,” He declared, “all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.” Verses 20, 21. God’s glory, His character, His merciful kindness and tender love—that which Moses had pleaded in behalf of Israel—were to be revealed to all mankind. And this promise of Jehovah was made doubly sure; it was confirmed by an oath. As surely as God lives and reigns, His glory should be declared “among the heathen, His wonders among all people.”Psalm 96:3.—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings* 313.1.†‡ [SeeRevelation 18:1.]‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p88.1381&index=0]‡

[BSG:] His glory is to embrace repentant sinners (see Prophets and Kings, p. 668) and still supply everything needed to change them. At the same time, it is our “glory” to reveal His character in our own lives and make it known to others.―BSG* for Tuesday, September 16.‡§

[EGW:] Every true turning to the Lord brings abiding joy into the life. When a sinner yields to the influence of the Holy Spirit, he sees his own guilt and defilement in contrast with the holiness of the great Searcher of hearts. He sees himself condemned as a transgressor. But he is not, because of this, to give way to despair; for his pardon has already been secured. He may rejoice in the sense of sins forgiven, in the love of a pardoning heavenly Father. It is God’s glory to encircle sinful, repentant human beings in the arms of His love, to bind up their wounds, to cleanse them from sin, and to clothe them with the garments of salvation.—Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings* 668.3.†‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p88.2963&index=0]‡

[EGW:] All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages* 668.3.†‡ [https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p130.3287&index=0]‡

[BSG:] This reflection of God’s character, His goodness, kindness, and tender love, must be seen in our actions. This way, we have a chance to be not only a blessing to the world but a shining light to the onlooking universe. As Paul states: “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings” (1 Cor. 4:9, NIV). This cosmic dimension gives to our lives and service a meaning and purpose that we can barely begin to imagine.―BSG* for Tuesday.†‡§ [SeeEphesians 1:7-10; 3:7-10; Colossians 1:19-20.]‡

  1. Paul said that it is the goodness of God that is supposed to lead us to repentance.

Romans 2:4: Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

  1. How much time do you spend focusing on the cross and what it tells you about the character of God? What does that also tell you about the nature of sin?

The Self-Revelation of God

[T-BSG:] The self-revelation of God’s character to Moses is the theological heart of the book of Exodus (Exod. 34:6, 7). It is situated at the apex of Moses’ climb up the mountain of God to meet with Him in a special way. God revealed His character to Moses upon his last climb recorded in the Pentateuch, which was at least his seventh climb. This last climb was also the third time that Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights with his Lord. Moses was growing in his relationship with the Lord; so, God was able to give him a fuller [sic] revelation about Himself and who He was. Besides these climbs, Moses interacted with the Lord in the “tent of meeting,” which was located outside of the camp of Israel (this tent is not the tabernacle, which will be built later and put in the center of the camp). The biblical text underlines that, during this time, a friendship developed between the Lord and Moses and that the Lord communicated directly with him “face to face” (Exod. 33:11).―T-BSG* 158-159.†‡§

  1. Probably the key passage in this study isExodus 34:6-7.

Exodus 34:6-7: 6The Lord then passed in front of him and called out, “I, the Lord, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness. 7I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin; but I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

  1. How would you compare these words inExodus 34:6-7 with the words inJohn 3:16?

John 3:16: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”—GNB-TEV.*

[T-BSG:] The expression “face to face” does not mean that Moses literally saw the face of God (Exod. 33:20) but that they were very dear friends. This phrase is an idiomatic expression that means intimate closeness. This meaning is clear from the situation described inDeuteronomy 5:4, wherein Moses, in his sermon, reminds the Israelites that the Lord spoke directly to them in near proximity: “ ‘The Lord talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire’ ” (Deut. 5:4, NKJV). In spite of God’s closeness to them, the people, unfortunately, stayed at a relational distance from their Lord.―T-BSG* 159.†‡§ [See the book: Problems in Bible Translation.]‡

  1. So, how did Moses actually “see” the revelation of God’s glory?
  2. Moses spent much time with God on and around Mount Sinai. He wrote Job with its wonderful themes of the great controversy before he spent all that time with God. And he also wrote Genesis with its larger-view themes before his time at Sinai. Then, the rest of the Pentateuch sounds so “legalistic” with descriptions of sacrifices and blood. Why did Moses not present even more of the great controversy view in the Pentateuch?

Exodus 34:1-7: 1 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2Get ready tomorrow morning, and come up Mount Sinai to meet me there at the top….”

5 The Lord came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and pronounced his holy name, the Lord. 6The Lord then passed in front of him and called out, “I, the Lord, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness. 7I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin; but I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*†

[BSG:] Moses had to take with him two stone tablets like the first ones, which he had broken (Exod. 32:19). He was going to meet with the Lord on Mount Sinai for the seventh time. His previous climbs are mentioned in the following texts: (1)Exod. 19:3, 7; (2)Exod. 19:8, 14; (3)Exod. 19:20, 25; (4)Exod. 20:21,Exod. 24:3; (5)Exod. 24:9, 12–18;Exod. 32:15; (6)Exod. 32:30, 31. Moses started his climb early in the morning.

Moses was now prepared for this glorious insight into God’s character. The beauty of God’s character is best explained in this stunning self-revelation of Himself. It is the most important description of who God is; it is the golden thread woven throughout the Bible (Num. 14:18,Neh. 9:17,Ps. 103:8,Joel 2:13,Jonah 4:2). The Lord’s proclamation here is theJohn 3:16 of the Old Testament. In crucial places, biblical authors apply, repeat, or expand on this self-proclamation of the living God because God’s character must be correctly understood.―BSG* for Wednesday, September 17.†‡§

  1. In the rest of that chapter, God agreed to re-establish a relationship with the children of Israel. He briefly reviewed most of the Ten Commandments, and He spelled out several of the requirements for the children of Israel.

[BSG:] When Moses received the exceptional, unprecedented, and unparalleled explanation of God’s name, he bowed down and worshiped the Lord. When we get glimpses of God’s love, grace, mercy, compassion, goodness, faithfulness, forgiveness, holiness, and justice, we also are attracted to Him. It is when we see and admire His exceptional qualities that we start to love Him, a love that leads to the desire to serve and obey Him. Because He loves us, we love Him back (1 John 4:19).―BSG* for Wednesday.‡§

[T-BSG:] The Lord declared who He was in a self-disclosing way. He is the Lord, a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abundant in love and faithfulness, showing love to thousands of generations, forgiving, and just. But the last portion of this self-revelation of God puzzles many: “ ‘He does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children . . . to the third and fourth generation’ ” (Exod. 34:7b, NIV). Why would God punish people to the third and fourth generation? This verse echoes the description from the second promise of the Ten Commandments that the Lord is “ ‘visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments’ ” (Exod. 20:5, 6, ESV).

To understand this concept, one needs to take into consideration the following facts: (1) God is using participles (i.e., continuous actions) when describing the next generation, which means they continue in the same wicked ways as their fathers (the previous generation) and have similar behavior and attitudes: they are “hating” the Lord and are thus “guilty.” On the other hand, note that God blesses those who are “loving” and “keeping” His commandments. (2) Consider the contrast of God’s mercy: punishment to the third and fourth generation of the wicked but giving love to thousands of generations. (3) Three to four generations often lived together, so within the same household, wrong attitudes were shared from one generation to the next. The prophet Ezekiel perfectly explains and corrects the misunderstanding of God’s punishments in families from one generation to another. (See Ezekiel 18.)―T-BSG* 160.†‡§

[BSG:] In this self-revelation, God assures Moses that He will perform marvelous deeds for His people and lead them into the Promised Land. He renews the covenant with them, promising that other nations will see His majesty and awesome work. “ ‘Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you’ ” (Exod. 34:10, NKJV).―BSG* for Wednesday, September 17.‡§

Exodus 34:10: The Lord said to Moses, “I now make a covenant with the people of Israel. In their presence I will do great things such as have never been done anywhere on earth among any of the nations. All the people will see what great things I, the Lord, can do, because I am going to do an awesome thing for you.”—Good News Bible-TEV.*

[BSG:] However, the Israelites needed to obey God and follow ten clear stipulations in order to secure their prosperity. Then Moses was asked by God to write the content of that covenant, which had already been broken (Exod. 34:27, 28).―BSG* for Wednesday, September 17.‡§

The Shining Face of Moses (Exodus 34:29-30)

[BSG:] After God revealed His character of love to Moses, Moses descended [from Mount Sinai] to Israel’s camp with a radiant face. Did Moses know at first that his face was radiant? Not at all. The closer one is to the Lord, the more keenly aware the person is of his or her imperfections compared to God’s holiness.

What was the cause for Moses’ transformation that resulted in his face becoming radiant? The reason was not in the simple fact that he was in God’s presence, because several times previously he had been with the Lord and his face did not become radiant after those encounters. However, if he had never been in the Lord’s presence, his face would never have shone. It was only when he understood God’s goodness and kindness, and he completely opened himself to God because of the beauty of His character, that Moses was transformed, and his face shone. Our hearts and minds can experience a change when we surrender to God and allow Him to be the Lord and King of our lives.―BSG* for Thursday, September 18.†‡

[T-BSG:] It was not God’s presence alone that brought the change in Moses’ life. It was important for Moses to come into His presence, but, again, that was not enough. It was crucial that Moses be open to God’s love, grace, and compassion. Moses’ understanding of God’s goodness (Rom. 2:4; Rom. 12:1, 2) and his opening up to its transformative power made his face shine.―T-BSG* 161.†‡§

  1. Why did Michelangelo sculpt Moses with horns? The “shining face” of Moses (Exodus 34:29-30) was mistranslated in the Latin Vulgate to be “with horns.” Several other earlier artistic renderings of Moses had horns. See: https://smarthistory.org/michelangelo-moses/.
  2. How can Jesus gradually transform you into His image?

[BSG:] Paul compares Moses’ shining face with Jesus Christ and that the glory of Jesus (in whom God’s law and grace were personified) surpasses the glory of the law with Moses. Christ, together with His law, can be engraved in our characters only when we fix our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 3:1,Heb. 12:2) and only by the power of the Spirit of God (2 Cor. 3:12–18).―BSG * for Thursday.‡§

  1. Adam and Eve were able to “walk with God” in the Garden of Eden. Why is it that if we should see the glory of God, we would be consumed? What has happened to us?

2 Corinthians 3:12-18: 12 Because we have this hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear…. 17Now, “the Lord” in this passage is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. 18All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.—Good News Bible-TEV.*

[BSG:] Moses is a model for us, demonstrating what God can do for us when we allow Him to change our characters and to mold us into His divine image. This is what Paul means when he talks about walking in the “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).―BSG* for Thursday, September 18.†‡§

[EGW:] After His resurrection, Christ ascended to heaven, and He is today presenting our needs to the Father. “I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands,” He says.Isaiah 49:16. It cost something to engrave them there. It cost untold agony. If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one. But, though professing to be converted, we carry around with us a bundle of self that we regard as altogether too precious to be given up. It is our privilege to lay this burden at the feet of Christ and in its place take the character and similitude of Christ. The Saviour [sic-British spelling] is waiting for us to do this.—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church,* vol. 9, 189.4.†‡

[https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p115.1058&index=0]‡

  1. Do you know someone who is kind, gracious, humble, and forgiving almost all the time? How has that person affected your life? What about people who are unkind, unforgiving, and arrogant, even though they call themselves Christians? How have they affected you?

©2025, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged. *Electronic version. †Bold type is added. ‡Brackets and content in brackets are added. §Italic type is in the source.

Last Modified: August 5, 2025                                                                                       Email: [email protected]