I’m sure you’ve heard warnings about looking straight at the sun during an eclipse. Well, what about looking straight at God? Recently, we published “Turn Your Face Toward It.” I recommend this article/podcast which explores a phrase right out of Scripture – “turn your face toward it.” The intent? Well, to turn your face toward God’s face. Especially interesting because Scripture says no one can look at Him and live! So, the question is – can you look at God?
Do You Want To Look At God?
Can you look at God and live? That’s an interesting question for people who want to know Him. Especially if you claim to be His child. Afterall, Ex. 33:20 says, “You cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.”
As we explored recently, apparently Moses wanted to look at God. This kind of desire is cultivated in one’s deepest soul. A yearning to know and see God. To understand more about Him and His ways.
It’s not true that some people have it, and others don’t. Actually, it’s a choice.
First, let’s look at the larger passage of Exodus 33:18-23.
Moses said, “Now show me Your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name – ‘the Lord’ – in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
But He said, “you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.”
Then the Lord said, “There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back. But My face must not be seen.”
Second, we have to admit something. The ability to see God partially depends on whether you want to see Him. Whether you pursue Him. Indeed, whether you turn your face toward His.
Contradiction?
Now – contrast the previous passage with this one –
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)
Or this one –
“Seek His face! Your face, Lord, I will seek.” (Ps. 27:8)
Or this one –
“Look to the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always.” (Ps. 105:4)
Is there contradiction in these portions of Scripture with the portion that says you can’t look at God and live? Again – the oxymoron we previously mentioned.
A Deeper Look At God
Before we address this oxymoron, let’s look deeper at the Exodus passage.
First, Moses is hungry to see and know God. So, there’s hunger involved in wanting to see God.
Next, God wants people to see and know Him. However, He also knows no one can look at Him and live. He deeply loves and protects those who want to know Him. So, to make it possible for Moses to see and know Him better, He arranges a safe scenario.
Here’s how that looks.
- Protectively, He places Moses in a “cleft of the rock” – where Moses’ life will be protected.
- Then, He promises to speak His “living name” in Moses’ presence. This is big. Here’s why.
- In Is. 6:2-4, we see this interesting reality: “Above Him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.’ At the sound of their voices, the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”
- From this, we deduce the holiness of God is powerful – even overwhelming. The seraphim, in His presence constantly, cover themselves. They announce to one another God’s holiness. The doorposts shake at this announcement and the temple is filled with smoke.
- Now, imagine what it would be like for God – the perfect, holy Being – to announce His own holiness. There’d be a lot more shaking, smoke, and righteous danger. It’s hard for us to imagine. Yet, this was Moses’ scenario. Still, God promised Moses – “I will proclaim My name – ‘the Lord’ – in your presence.”
Goodness And Glory
Back to God protecting Moses in a “cleft of the rock.”
- Now that Moses is safely tucked in a cleft of the rock, God arranges for His “goodness” to pass in front of Moses. Apparently, this is something a person can look at. Remarkably, God wants people to see His goodness – one of His incredible attributes. Essentially, this one attribute – goodness – eliminates many (sometimes ridiculous) arguments about whether God is who He claims to be. You can’t be good and bad at the same time and remain congruently good.
- Kindly, God does one more preliminary thing. He quite literally puts His hand over Moses so he cannot see His face. Once His “glory” passes by, He removes His hand for Moses to see His goodness – His back. This is protective love.
Glory And Goodness
If we assign “goodness” as a quality of what God does, and “glory” as the essence of who God is – we can observe what God does more easily than who He is.
Glory is what God is – through and through.
Goodness is what He does. Because He is so good, we can bear witness to His goodness through –
- Creation.
- Christ’s life.
- Jesus’ cross and resurrection.
- All the centuries filled with the lives of His followers.
So, we are allowed to see His goodness – but only a measured view of His glory. Interestingly, glory seems associated with God’s face. Goodness associated with His back – which Moses was allowed to see.
Wherever the Lord goes, He leaves an undeniable trail of good things He’s done, people He’s helped, interventions He’s provided.
Can You Look At God?
This is still the question. Let’s explore one section from “Turn Your Face Toward It.”
First, there’s the element of seeing God through the eyes of faith. Look at His –
- Attributes.
- Character and conduct.
- Promises and commands.
These give a strong picture of what His face is like. Additionally, we are told – “God is Love.” (1 Jn. 4:8)
Second, Jesus changed everything. Being God, yet also man, Jesus is “viewable.” God in skin with “original” human nature running through His veins. So, you can look at Jesus and see God. Jesus said, “If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well.” (Jn. 14:7) You see God through the life of Christ.
Jesus also declares, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (Jn. 14:9). Quite literally, Jesus means He’s a picture of God.
Third and even more stunning – Jesus is the exact representation of God! Heb. 1:3a says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word.” Everything Christ did, said, taught means – we see God.
Jesus Truly Changes Everything
Because He became human, Jesus makes it possible to see God – and live. Plus, He provides an example of God’s goodness. Actually, His glory is a stumbling block. Listen to 1 Cor. 1:23. “But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles . . .” This, too, seems like an oxymoron. The glorious Christ who exactly represents God in a body . . . crucified (dead)!
Yes, Christ is sometimes a stumbling block. Jesus’ humanity is a challenge. People struggle to equate Him as 100% “God” precisely because He’s a man. Plus, He died. How does God die?! Of course, He rose from the dead.
Still, He is fully God and fully man. Blessed is the person who does not let this rhetoric interfere with faith in Jesus.
Jesus – a paradox. Like us – but not like us. God’s glory as a man in Christ is something we can look at – face to face. But we don’t see the complete glory of God – the holiness not even seraphim can look at.
Jesus’ goodness is seen in what He says, does, and teaches. It’s observable.
Summary Conclusions
Apparently, you can look at God – and live!
- See God through the eyes of faith.
- Look at Jesus who makes God “viewable.”
- Why – Because He’s the exact representation of God.
Application Thoughts And Questions
- Do you want to look at God? Are you hungry to know Him, love Him more, and serve Him better?
- In what ways do you seek God each day?
- Interestingly, by simply being you, some of God’s glory shows in your life.
- How are you showing God’s goodness – by what you say, do, and teach?
- Are you letting Jesus change you?
- When others look at your life, do they see Jesus?
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