Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
By the second time Moses comes down the Mountain with the tablets, a lot has happened. He has spent 40 days on the mountain with God. The people have sinned with Aaron's golden calf. Moses has asked to see God, and God has passed by so Moses can see his back. God has given the law and instructions for the ark of the Covenant, and God has treated Moses as his friend.
This scene of Moses and the veil over his shining face has always intrigued me. What intrigues me is the striking image of Moses - his face aglow before it fades, as a visual representation of the glory of God.
Striking too is the fear it created in the Israelites.
The first image I think of is the halos we often see in Renaissance paintings on Jesus and his mother, as well as some of the saints. A depiction of God reflected in a way that cannot be missed.
I also think of the shepherds at Jesus birth witnessing the angels with the "glory of the Lord" shining round them.
And of Paul who in 2 Corinthians uses Moses veil to connect the hardening of the Israelites hearts and disappearing of the old Covenant to make way for the new.
But mostly when I read this passage I think of what other visual images the Glory of God creates. I think of sitting at the side of the dying.
I think of taking youth to a homeless shelter to feed those in need.
I think of standing up for the outcast and the wronged.
I think of a group meeting to study scriptures in for learning and fellowship.
I think of peacemakers and teachers and leaders who with their actions help bring about the Kingdom of God Jesus called for.
Our faces may not shine when we encounter the living God. But when God works through us, what is seen is perhaps even more startling. The love of God changes lives. It molds and recreates us, and no veil will hide it.
God of change and glory, move us to be living images of your love. Shine on and lead us to shine in the lives of those we meet every day. Amen
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