{"id":53766,"date":"2025-07-14T08:54:30","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T05:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=53766"},"modified":"2025-07-28T22:46:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:46:54","slug":"the-journey-to-see-the-face-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2025\/07\/14\/the-journey-to-see-the-face-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"THE JOURNEY TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"},"content":{"rendered":"

Moses (the Back)<\/strong>
\nChrist (the Mirror)<\/strong>
\nHeaven (the Full Revelation)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was Moses\u2019 deep desire to see the face of God after a long time without visibly encountering Him.<\/p>\n

Face-to-face with God (Theophany)<\/h3>\n

The scriptures say God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. This implies an intimate, direct communication what theologians call a theophany<\/strong>, a visible manifestation of God to humans without fully revealing His essence, since God\u2019s full glory is too great for fallen humans to withstand.<\/p>\n

Exodus 33:11 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nThe Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But later Moses asked to see God\u2019s face, and God warned:<\/p>\n

Exodus 33:20-23 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nBut,\u201che said, \u201cyou cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.\u201d Then the Lord said, \u201cThere is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Invisibility of God\u2019s Essence<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

This emphasizes the doctrine of Divine Invisibility <\/strong>God\u2019s essence is invisible and unapproachable in His fullness (1 Timothy 6:16). Seeing God’s “face” means experiencing His full glory, which sinful humans cannot survive without atonement.<\/p>\n

Moses\u2019 sinfulness and humanity limited his capacity to behold God’s glory fully. Thus, God allowed Moses to see only His “back,” a metaphor indicating partial revelation of God\u2019s presence (a limited view of His glory).<\/p>\n

1 Timothy 6:16 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nWho alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The Nature of God Revealed to Moses<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When Moses saw God\u2019s “back,” he understood His character compassion, grace, patience, love, and justice.<\/p>\n

Exodus 34:5-7 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nThen the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed His name, the Lord. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, \u201cThe Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This passage reveals God\u2019s mercy and justice in tension <\/strong>a foundational theme in biblical theology, balancing God\u2019s holiness and love.<\/p>\n

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The Face (Through the Mirror): Jesus Christ Reveals God<\/strong><\/h2>\n

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal the face of God to humanity. Jesus is the ultimate theophany <\/strong>the full, perfect revelation of God in human form (John 1:14; Colossians 1:15).<\/p>\n

John 1:18 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nNo one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Colossians 1:15 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nThe Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Because no sinful human can see God and live, Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection make it possible for us to stand before God\u2019s glory.<\/p>\n

Hebrews 9:14 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nHow much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death…<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus revealed God\u2019s true nature as love<\/strong>, perfectly unconditional and sacrificial.<\/p>\n

1 John 4:8 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nWhoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Seeing God Face to Face: The Future Hope<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Currently, we see God \u201cthrough a mirror\u201d<\/strong> (Greek: katoptron<\/em>), meaning a partial and indirect vision, a spiritual perception.<\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nFor now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The ultimate vision of God beatific vision <\/strong>will happen in heaven, where believers will fully behold God’s glory.<\/p>\n

Revelation 22:4 (NIV)<\/strong>
\nThey will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Conclusion and Invitation<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The journey to seeing God\u2019s face:<\/p>\n