The Israelites had sinned. They had Aaron build a a golden statue for them to worship instead of God.
Moses had come out the Mount and got so angry that he broke the stone tables that God had written the 10 commandments on. Now, Moses was going back up onto Mount Sinai to talk to God.
Exodus 33:1-4- And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.
God had already promised Moses that He wouldn't kill the Hebrew children for this sin. But, God was so upset that He told Moses He wouldn't go with the children of Israel to the promised land because he would end up killing them.
This made the people very sad when they heard this.
Exodus 33:7- And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.
Moses put up the Tabernacle so that the people who wanted to talk to God and hear from God could go somewhere to do this.
Exodus 33:8-10- And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
Moses followed what God wanted without question. He knew that God wanted people to go to the Tabernacle to commune with Him, so Moses was their example.
Whenever Moses went to the Tabernacle, the cloudy pillar would go down on the Tabernacle. This let everyone who was watching know that God was talking with Moses. This gave the people hope and they worshipped God.
Exodus 33:11- And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Moses had such a unique relationship with God that he got to speak with God like you would talk to your friend. He talked to God and he heard God answer him.
Joshua wanted a relationship with God. He was just a young man, but he went to the Tabernacle and he stayed there. This got God's attention. God was going to use Joshua in a very special way. But, Joshua didn't know this. He only knew that he wanted to have a relationship with God.
Exodus 33:12-14- And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
Moses' relationship with God was so good, that Moses could ask God to change His mind and God would listen. Moses asked God to go with them and lead them into the Promised Land. God had already said He wouldn't, but because of Moses request God said "yes".
Exodus 33:17- And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
God told Moses he would answer his request. This made Moses desire a more personal relationship with God.
Exodus 33:18, 20- And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
I'm sure this was something that broke God's heart. This man Moses was God's friend. God hadn't had a friend like this since Enoch walked the earth. God yearned to give Moses what he asked.
Exodus 33:21-23- And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
God put Moses into solid rock and then he covered Moses with His hand. Once he had turned around, He let Moses see Him from behind through solid rock. That was the most anyone had ever seen of God.
When someone gets that close to God, it changes them forever.
