The LORD's Presence Promised

331 Then the Lord spoke to Moses , "Depart , go up from here , you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt , to the land of which I swore to Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob , saying , ' To your descendants I will give it.' 2 "I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite , the Amorite , the Hittite , the Perizzite , the Hivite and the Jebusite . 3 "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey ; for I will not go up in your midst , because you are an obstinate e people , and I might destroy you on the way ." 4 When the people heard this sad word , they went into mourning , and none e of them put on his ornaments . 5 For the Lord had said to Moses , "Say to the sons of Israel , 'You are an obstinate e people ; should I go up in your midst for one moment , I would destroy you. Now therefore, put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what I shall do with you.' " 6 So the sons of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments , from Mount Horeb onward.

7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside e the camp , a good distance from the camp , and he called it the tent of meeting . And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside e the camp . 8 And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent , that all the people would arise and stand , each at the entrance of his tent , and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent . 9 Whenever Moses entered the tent , the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent ; and the Lord would speak with Moses . 10 When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent , all the people would arise and worship , each at the entrance of his tent . 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face , just as a man speaks to his friend . When Moses returned to the camp , his servant Joshua , the son of Nun , a young man , would not depart from the tent .

12 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 .' 13 "Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight , let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight . Consider too, that this nation is Your people ." 14 And He said , " My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest ." 15 Then he said to Him, " If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here . 16 "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight , I and Your people ? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people , may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth ?" 17 The Lord said to Moses , "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken ; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name ." 18 Then Moses said , "I pray You, show me Your glory !" 19 And He said , " I Myself will make all My goodness pass before e you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious , and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion ." 20 But He said , "You cannot e see My face , for no man can see Me and live !" 21 Then the Lord said , "Behold , there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock ; 22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. 23 "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back , but My face shall not be seen ."