Why does God say whoever sees His face will die?
Exodus 33:20
ESV - 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.
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Asked December 18 2013
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David Riley
Supporter
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Bobby Daniel
Extreme High Dosage of Radioactive Particles - KILLS!
Vin Smith
I love this statement you wrote, Joseph!
"One reason that we do not have lengthy topical sections is that it would be that much more easy to distort things. So, in order to understand God's Will, one must thoroughly know His Word."
It reminds me of a question a young person once gave me: "Why is it so hard to study the Bible? Why isn't it easy and plainly stated?"
My answer was it really is plainly stated, but in its complexity, it takes a lifetime to absorb (it's part of the process of sanctification). Then I told a story on myself... If the Bible were as accessible as the DMV manual, we would read and study it once, and then never crack the pamphlet again. Actually, I tried that. I passed the written test when I was sixteen with 99%-- never read it again. Then when I was compelled to take a written test again in my late 30's (a different state), I didn't bother to read a DMV manual. My score? 80%! Barely passing!
Also, as a concert pianist I am reminded of the Jascha Heifetz quote: "If I don't practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.
Reading God's word on a daily basis is necessary to fend off the forces of evil that always strike the believer!
Salem Markus Purba
Because God is The Almighty One (Exodus 3:6; Job 37: 23-24),
Having eternal life is not by seeing, but knowing, believing and following the Word of God (John 17: 1-26; 20: 28-29).
Stacie Luther
In the old testament God couldn't face sin and all humans are sinners. In Leviticus he came to dwell with humans and they had to slaughter and sacrifice in front of the Lord just to have sins covered up, they weren't washed away. In the new testament God himself came to Earth as a human to teach and to take our sins upon himself to wash away the sins of the saved with his blood- past, present, and future sins- God remembers them no more for his own transgressions.
Danny Hickman
I don't think God does internet dating. There are characters who don't really intend on ever meeting anyone face to face, who pretend to be someone other than themselves on the wwweb on a daily basis. I believe they avoid reality by keeping a low profile. I don't think they're itching to be looked at in person.
I don't think that's why God says to us that we are not to look upon His face; that death is the result of us seeing His face. Is He ashamed of His appearance? I wouldn't think so, what with the way His abode is depicted by John the apostle. His spot is described with terms like 'brilliance' and 'precious stones.' I think the same is said of His glory! It has nothing to do with Him being shy, or wanting to be able to go public and still be incognito. IOW, I believe He'd be recognized for who He is the moment we laid eyes on Him; I don't believe anyone would ask Him, 'Who are You?'
Why death? "No one can see My face and live."
Jehovah is Spirit! I believe we're being told something much deeper than a mere warning that we're to make no attempt at seeing His face. Maybe we're being told that we should revere Him so much that it's US who should see ourselves as being unworthy to look Him eye to eye! (There have been people who thought so much of themselves that they posed that prohibition to other people). Instead of being humbled by the Creator of all the world and everything in it telling us we ain't good enough to see His face, we have to nerve to ask Him, WHY!!?
Danny Hickman
God isn't boasting of His grandeur.
There are things we understand right off without a whole lot of explanation when it pertains to the natural world, that we stumble over when the same concept is of a spiritual nature.
When I got to Basic Training for the United States Army back in 1975, one of the first things we were commanded to do was to use our peripheral vision when we were in face to face contact with a Drill Sergeant. I can still hear Drill Sergeant Mayo now; "Stop eyeballing me boy!!" We weren't man enough, good enough, SOLDIER ENOUGH to look them in their face! And in no time flat, we knew they were right!
No one questioned that command and felt that it was without cause or lacked reason.
A "You can't look at my face" prohibition isn't about the authority that makes that rule; the administrator of it is saying less about himself than the one at which it is leveled. 'You're a lowlife in comparison to me. You're not even yet worthy to look me in the face." It's not a brag, it's a putdown!! It ain't always true; but it doesn't have to be for punishment for the offense to be enforced. God wants us to come to the knowledge of just how onerous and vile sin really is!! It routinely misses our knower..
Peter came to that reality. He reacted to that great catch of fish that Jesus gave him by recognizing that Jesus was divine and that he was a sinful man, who was undeserving to be in fellowship with the Lord! (Luke 5)
We brag so much that we think God does too!