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congregation。〃 All who were truly penitent； and desired to return to the
Lord； were directed to repair thither to confess their sins and seek His
mercy。 When they returned to their tents Moses entered the tabernacle。 With
agonizing interest the people watched for some token that his intercessions
in their behalf were accepted。 If God should condescend to meet with him；
they might hope that they were not to be utterly consumed。 When the cloudy
pillar descended； and stood at the entrance of the tabernacle； the people
wept for joy； and they 〃rose up and worshiped； every man in his tent door。〃
Moses knew well the perversity and blindness of those who were placed under
his care； he knew the difficulties with which he must contend。 But he had
learned that in order to prevail with the people； he must have helped from
God。 He pleaded for a clearer revelation of God's will and for an assurance
of His presence： 〃See； Thou sayest unto me； Bring up this people： and Thou
hast not let me know whom Thou wilt send with me。 Yet Thou
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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； show 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。〃
The answer was； 〃My presence shall go with thee； and I will give thee rest。〃
But Moses was not yet satisfied。 There pressed upon his soul a sense of the
terrible results should God leave Israel to hardness and impenitence。 He
could not endure that his interests should be separated from those of his
brethren； and he prayed that the favor of God might be restored to His
people； and that the token of His presence might continue to direct their
journeyings： 〃If Thy presence go not with me； carry us not up hence。 For
wherein shall it be known here that I and Thy people have found grace in Thy
sight？ is it not in that Thou goest with us？ So shall we be separated； I and
Thy people； from all the people that are upon the face of the earth。〃
And the Lord said； 〃I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken： for
thou hast found grace in My sight； and I know thee by name。〃 Still the
prophet did not cease pleading。 Every prayer had been answered； but he
thirsted for greater tokens of God's favor。 He now made a request that no
human being had ever made before： 〃I beseech Thee； show me Thy glory。〃
God did not rebuke his request as presumptuous； but the gracious words were
spoken； 〃I will make all My goodness pass before thee。〃 The unveiled glory
of God； no man in this mortal state can look upon and live； but Moses was
assured that he should behold as much of the divine glory as he could
endure。 Again he was summoned to the mountain summit； then the hand that
made the world； that hand that 〃removeth the mountains； and they know not〃
（Job 9：5）； took this creature of the dust； this mighty man of faith； and
placed him in a cleft of the rock； while the glory of God and all His
goodness passed before him。
This experienceabove all else the promise that the divine Presence would
attend himwas to Moses an assurance of success in the work before him； and
he counted it of infinitely greater worth than all the learning of Egypt or
all his attainments as a statesman or a military leader。 No earthly power or
skill or learning can supply the place of God's abiding presence。
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To the transgressor it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God； but Moses stood alone in the presence of the Eternal One； and he
was not afraid； for his soul was in harmony with the will of his Maker。 Says
the psalmist； 〃If I regard iniquity in my heart； the Lord will not hear me。〃
Psalm 66：18。 But 〃the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him； and He
will show them His covenant。〃 Psalm 25：14。
The Deity proclaimed Himself； 〃The Lord； The Lord God； merciful and
gracious； long…suffering； and abundant in goodness and truth； keeping mercy
for thousands； forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin； and that will
by no means clear the guilty。〃
〃Moses made haste； and bowed his head toward the earth； and worshiped。〃
Again he entreated that God would pardon the iniquity of His people； and
take them for His inheritance。 His prayer was granted。 The Lord graciously
promised to renew His favor to Israel； and in their behalf to do marvels
such as had not been done 〃in all the earth； nor in any nation。〃
Forty days and nights Moses remained in the mount； and during all this time；
as at the first； he was miraculously sustained。 No man had been permitted to
go up with him； nor during the time of his absence were any to approach the
mount。 At God's command he had prepared two tables of stone； and had taken
them with him to the summit； and again the Lord 〃wrote upon the tables the
words of the covenant； the Ten Commandments。〃 ＇* SEE APPENDIX； NOTE 5。＇
During that long time spent in communion with God； the face of Moses had
reflected the glory of the divine Presence； unknown to himself his face
shown with a dazzling light when he descended from the mountain。 Such a
light illumined the countenance of Stephen when brought before his judges；
〃and all that sat in the council； looking steadfastly on him； saw his face
as it had been the face of an angel。〃 Acts 6：15。 Aaron as well as the people
shrank away from Moses； and 〃they were afraid to come nigh him。〃 Seeing
their confusion and terror； but ignorant of the cause； he urged them to come
near。 He held out to them the pledge of God's reconciliation； and assured
them of His restored favor。 They perceived in his voice nothing but love and
entreaty； and at last one ventured to approach him。 Too awed to speak； he
silently pointed to the countenance of Moses； and then toward
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heaven。 The great leader understood his meaning。 In their conscious guilt；
feeling themselves still under the divine displeasure； they could not endure
the heavenly light； which； had they been obedient to God； would have filled
them with joy。 There is fear in guilt。 The soul that is free from sin will
not wish to hide from the light of heaven。
Moses had much to communicate to them； and compassionating their fear； he
put a veil upon his face； and continued to do so thereafter whenever he
returned to the camp from communion with God。
By this brightness God designed to impress upon Israel the sacred； exalted
character of His law； and the glory of the gospel revealed through Christ。
While Moses was in the mount； God presented to him； not only the tables of
the law； but also the plan of salvation。 He saw that the sacrifice of Christ
was pre…figured by all the types and symbols of the Jewish age； and it was
the heavenly light streaming from Calvary； no less than the glory of the law
of God； that shed such a radiance upon the face of Moses。 That divine
illumination symbolized the glory of the dispensation of which Moses was the
visible mediator； a representative of the one true Intercessor。
The glory reflected in the countenance of Moses illustrates the blessings to
be received by God's comm