Exodus 33:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’

NIV: Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’

NASB: Then Moses said to the Lord, 'See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’

CSB: Moses said to the Lord, "Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’

NLT: 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.’

KJV: And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

NKJV: Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’

God recently said that He could destroy the entire nation of Israel for their blatant sin (Exodus 32:7–10). The people committed idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6) shortly after being told it was forbidden (Exodus 20:3–6). Mercifully, that was not part of His plan (Exodus 32:13–14). Yet He withdrew His presence from Israel in some way (Exodus 33:1–3). Instead of His usual presence, God spoke of sending an unspecified angel (Exodus 32:34). Moses and God are meeting in a tent set up outside the Israelite camp (Exodus 33:7–11).

In this passage, the Lord draws out an expression of faith from Moses. As Moses explains his concerns, God replies with reassurances. Moses is convinced that the Lord is on his side. Yet he also knows that without direct divine help, they will never reach the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18–21). He presents his struggle to the Lord: someone must be accompanying Israel. If not God, it must be someone or something else.

Exodus 33:12–16 summarizes early conversations between the Lord and Moses in a tent of meeting (Exodus 33:7–11). Moses pleads for guidance. He knows that Israel needs God's help. He also knows that the Lord's active presence will be a sign to the world: that Israel is distinct and favored (Deuteronomy 7:6). So, Moses asks the Lord to accompany the people with His presence, and not just an angel (Exodus 33:2–3).

God commands Israel to leave the Sinai region. They are to move on towards the Promised Land, but without the Lord's usual presence. Moses meets with God outside the camp and the Lord says He will once again accompany Israel. Moses asks to see the full glory of God. Since this would kill Moses, God arranges for a much more limited experience.

Israel fell into idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6) very soon after receiving God's laws against it (Exodus 20:3–6). Yet the Lord still plans to bring them into a Promised Land. In this chapter, the people are commanded to leave Sinai and head towards Canaan. But the covenant must be renewed (Exodus 34). Until then, there is a level of separation between the nation and their God.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.