33:1
There are three sections in this chapter. It begins with God saying He will send an angel with the Israelites, and will drive out the occupants, but God Himself will not go with them, for if He did then His wrath might break out amongst them and destroy them. Then we read of the tent of meeting, where Moses can meet with God. Moses then intercedes with God and God relents and says He will be with Moses. There are two fundamental points. One is that in our “natural state” (i.e. one of sinful rebellion against God) we cannot endure God’s presence. The other is that we need to be in fellowship with God, indeed are meant to be in fellowship with Him.
The chapter begins with God telling Moses to “go up from here” to the place that God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Part of the whole drama of the Bible is how can the promises of God possibly be fulfilled when the people are so sinful. This is the problem that is completely solved in Jesus Christ.
33:2,3
The initial “solution” is that God would indeed drive out the Canaanites etc, so the people would inherit the land flowing with milk and honey. However, this would be done by God sending an angel ahead of them, not by God accompanying them. For they were not a people who could safely dwell with the Lord. The giving of the material promise is not enough, the problem of our sinfulness needs to be fully addressed.
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