God's Back (Ex 33/ 83)

I've been lax.
Slack.
A poor manager of time.
Distracted.
Weary.
Sore.
Really sore.
Oh Donna just rang from Sydney. Happy clap and dance.
Where was I?
Oh yeah poor sore me. blah di blah di blah.
Actually I was pretty sore from the fence stuff on Saturday. Poor excuses?
I've got heaps.
I really need to do more physical stuff. I'm getting soft in my old age.
Yeah I know sis, soft-ER.
Thanks.

Exodus 33
v11 " Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend."

Golly.
More on this in a bit.
Earlier God refers to the Israelites as a "stiff-necked people" again.
They don't seem to appreciate it, yet don't appear to change.
They tend to get the sulks easily.
Spoilt children without the spoiling.
I understand (sort of. I have bush walked a bit(a tiny bit)) the hardship involved in wandering through the wilderness.
Of giving up everything you knew to follow a man and follow God.
But they are going to a land they know they were promised.
They are being led by God who has demonstrated His power over and over.
Hello, pillar of cloud, pillar of fire ring any bells guys.
Yet as soon as something goes different to what they want, they crack the sads.
To the point God wants to do them all in and start again.
That He doesn't is a measure of His grace.
That He doesn't is a measure of His love.
That He doesn't is a measure of His patience.

God does find favour in Moses.
Some may argue this was because He had everything invested in Moses.
But Moses also loved this people.
Not as much as God.
But a lot.
He argues against their extermination.
He pleads for more food, more water.
He has fought for them continually since they left Egypt.
Maybe it is this passion they enables him to enjoy the relationship he has with God.
This common bond they have.
He asks God to reveal His glory to him.
What was he thinking?
Wasn't the maelstrom on the mount enough?
So God will let Moses see His back.
His back.
I have to say that again.
His back.
Moses, who knows God more than anyone, meets with God in a tent regularly and has just had a fairly deep and meaningful with Him on a mountain, can only just take in the glory emanating from God's back.
And God will let him see it.
Staggering.