”Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting. One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.” The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.” Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.” The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”“
Exodus 33:11-23 NLT
It is clear that Moses suffered from a similar disposition as the people he led. He knew of God, he even knew him as God, but he still doesn’t understand what that means. To his credit, he acknowledged that fact here. Yet, from the perspective of God, this was possibly annoying. Considering how God was responding to Israel, and Moses prior concern that led to him sharing ministry with Aaron, it seems that Moses was speaking to God from a place of insecurity. He again seemed to be concerned about being alone in this journey and wanted extra encouragement. Yet, we see that because Moses worshipped God as God, he is given the honor of God’s friendship as well as his consideration, despite the insecurity Moses displayed. God reassures him that he is with him. Indeed, though Moses wouldn’t enter the promised land with the people, we later see him at Christ’s transfiguration. Jude also tells us that his burial place is a mystery. Perhaps being hidden in the cleft of the rock became more than metaphor in the end? Either way, God honored Moses’ submission to God, even if it wasn’t perfect. Though it was sloppy and insecure, Moses came as close as any man does to seeing God, because he trusted God’s graceful character.
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