We ended our last posting saying that there were men who had seen God and did not die. Men who had demonstrated that it was possible to see God and live. And we parted wondering whether God had lied to Moses or not?
The truth is, no one has ever seen the fullness of He that cannot be contained even by the entire universe. Those who saw Him, only caught a glimpse of Him: they saw Him partly, as furtively as we can see a Head of State sitting in his car as it passes in front of us. They glimpsed at something that had a profound impact on them, but they did not actually see the whole of Him.
Furthermore, the Bible says it plainly: God is not a man to lie. He told Adam and Eve that they would die the day they would eat of the forbidden fruit and yet, He was not alluding to their immediate physical death. Similarly, when He spoke to Moses, He was referring to something else; which doesn’t exclude the possibility that one can actually fall stiff dead for having seen Him…
“You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” If you have really seen God, you can only die: die to yourself, your projects, your plans, your conception of life etc. If you see God, you will receive all your imperfection and faults in the face, along with His glow and brightness. You will have to face your true moral and spiritual condition and, all you knew, thought and believed about yourself will instantly fade away: you will die. No one can see God and continue "to live" as before. No one can see His Face, His glory, and continue to live (of) his life. The Lord's desire is that Man should see Him, die…and Live! His desire is that Man should die to himself to be reborn in God. That one dies to his life to live from HIS LIFE.
And because every death is painful, He said to Moses: “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” (Exodus 33:19)
Truly, if God’s goodness and mercy do not pass before us along with the ugliness of our vanity, we will be lost. We will only wish one thing: to end there with life and commit suicide. It is the love of God that helps us to live again… And the most beautiful proof of that love is Jesus, the Christ. Paul understood it and said: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” and also, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Philippians 1:21, Galatians 2:20). Because, after seeing God, Saul of Tarsus died, crucified with Christ ; and Paul was born and lived by faith in the son of God who loved him and gave Himself for him.
Moses desired to see the God’s glory. What could have seemed pretentious in his days is freely granted to us in Christ. It is written indeed: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2Corinthians 3:18)
And those who are tempted to think God is not trustworthy, can be reassured. He told Moses that He would for him do what he wished for and He kept His promise: Moses did see Him on the Mount of Transfiguration! (Matthew 17) Alleluia! ;-)
The Israelites could not even look at Moses’ unveiled face; but it has been given to us to behold the Lord’s glory – in a mirror, still; but without a veil – and to be gradually transformed in the same image!!! In other words, each time we behold it, something of us dies and something of Him is birthed in us… by virtue of the Spirit, the Lord.
To see God and live? Impossible: He is so vast that He cannot be seen by the flesh.
To see God and live? Quite possible, provided one dies to oneself and is crucified with Christ.
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:18). What was inaccessible is now accessible in Christ, through a permanent, thirsty and hungry quest for Him. By seeing God, one finally has access to the Zōē, to Life, in all its fullness…
‘‘I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly.’’ (John 10:10, LITV)
May God richly bless you by granting you the priceless grace to see His Face so that you may die to all unworthliness and live of His fulness.
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