(1) 34:29 Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand—when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
Moses' face shone. It did not happen before, but when he came back with the 2nd set of tablets it started to happen. God did not make Moses' face shone when he came back with the 1st set of tablets. Why with the 2nd set of tablets?
The 2nd set was given when God renewed the covenant with Israel. They were the same as the 1st set 34:1,4 to confirm them that God gave them second chance. Moses' face shone would also confirm them that God was with them.
(NET) ... is how to authenticate the message. The section again can be subdivided into three points that develop the whole idea: I. The one who spends time with God reflects his glory (29–30). It will not always be as Moses; rather, the glory of the LORD is reflected differently today, but nonetheless reflected. II. The glory of Yahweh authenticates the message (31–32). III. The authentication of the message must be used cautiously with the weak and immature (33–35).
Reflection: Have you ever doubted that the presence of God after you sinned/returned back to God? Do you long for the closeness you had with God before you sinned? The glory on Moses' face confirmed to Israel that God was still with them. In the NT, God also confirmed that He will forgive us in 1 John 1:9.
(2) 34:30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him. 34:31 But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke to them. 34:32 After this all the Israelites approached, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai.
34:34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. Then he would come out and tell the Israelites what he had been commanded
The result of the glory on Moses' face was the fear of the people to approach him. This fear was exactly what they needed in order for them to listen and obeyed what God told them to do. Moses' role as mediator was accomplished. Reflection: Do you reflect God's glory by getting close to God? Is your teaching effective? If not, is it because you do not have the reflected glory?
(3) 34:34 But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out...34:35 When the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone...
Mose' face shone more than once. Not only when Moses went up to Mt Sinai that his face shone, but when he went in before the LORD (probably when he entered the tent of meeting or tabernacle) his face also shone. There was no difference between the special event (to Mt Sinai) and the everyday event (to the tent of meeting).
Reflection: Do you feel that you are very close to God when you attend some special conference/event? Are you afraid that you cannot get to that "high" anymore?
Audrey
p.s. About the veil, the OT did not explain a lot. In 2 Cor 3 Paul explained that. We will wait until we read that book to go into more details about that.
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