Moses on the Mountain
A face that shone
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Story
What happened?
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The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
God called Moses up Mount Sinai to receive the stone tablets, and the glory of the LORD covered the mountain like a consuming fire. Moses went into the cloud and stayed forty days and forty nights. Later, when he came down with the tablets, his face was shining from speaking with God, so he wore a veil over it.
Where it is in the Bible: Exodus 24:12-18 and 34:29-35
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Moses: The leader God chose to bring Israel out of Egypt.
- Joshua: Moses's young helper.
- Aaron: Moses's brother.
- The Israelites: God's people, camped below Mount Sinai.
- The LORD: God. LORD in capital letters stands for God's personal name. Jewish readers traditionally don't say it aloud, out of respect.
Setting
- Mount Sinai, the mountain where God gave his law.
When
- Soon after the Israelites left Egypt, more than 3,000 years ago.
Before the Story
God gave the Ten Commandments. He spoke them from the mountain in thunder and fire (20:1-17).
The people promised to obey. "All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do" (24:3).
Here's what happens in between: While Moses was on the mountain, the people made a golden calf. Moses broke the first tablets. God gave new ones (32:19, 34:1).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Come up to me | 24:12-14 | God calls Moses up the mountain |
| 2. Into the cloud | 24:15-18 | God's glory covers the mountain |
| 3. A shining face | 34:29-32 | Moses comes down glowing |
| 4. The veil | 34:33-35 | Moses covers his face |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4Come Up to Me
The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here, so that I may give you the tablets of stone" (24:12).
Moses set out with Joshua. He told the leaders to wait below, with Aaron and Hur in charge.
Scene 2 of 4Into the Cloud
When Moses went up, a cloud covered the mountain.
"The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai" (24:16). For six days the cloud covered it. On the seventh day, God called to Moses from the cloud.
To the people below, God's glory looked "like a consuming fire on the mountaintop" (24:17).
Moses walked into the cloud. He stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Scene 3 of 4A Shining Face
Later, Moses came down from the mountain with the two stone tablets.
"He was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD" (34:29). Radiant means glowing, shining with light.
Aaron and the people saw his face shining. They were afraid to come near him.
But Moses called them. They came, and he told them everything God had said.
Scene 4 of 4The Veil
When he finished, Moses put a veil over his face. A veil is a cloth covering.
Whenever he went in to speak with the LORD, he took it off. When he came out, he told the people God's words, and they saw his face shining. Then he covered it again.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Come up to Me" (24:12) | God invited Moses close. |
| "The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai" (24:16) | God's presence was there, shining. |
| "Like a consuming fire" (24:17) | God's glory is powerful and holy. |
| "Forty days and forty nights" (24:18) | Moses spent a long time with God. |
| "His face had become radiant" (34:29) | Being with God left Moses shining. |
| "He put a veil over his face" (34:33) | God's glory was too bright for the people. |
Back Then
Forty days shows up often in the Bible. Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2).
Some old paintings show Moses with horns. An early Latin translation used a word that can mean "horned" instead of "shining."
Paul wrote about Moses's veil. He said that in Christ, the veil is taken away, and we see God's glory (2 Corinthians 3:13-18).
Literal Reader Alert
Did Moses's face really glow? The Bible says it did. It was a sign that he had been with God.
Why were people afraid? God's glory is holy and powerful. People knew they were sinners.
Can we see God's glory? Paul says we see God's glory in the face of Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6).
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The people | Amazed | God's glory looked like fire (24:17) |
| Moses | Unaware | He didn't know his face was shining (34:29) |
| The people | Afraid | They were scared to come near (34:30) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this story say to you? Tap one.
Time with God
Moses spent forty days with God. Even a few minutes matters.
God is holy
God's glory is like fire. He is greater than we imagine.
I want to see God
We see God's glory in Jesus.
Shining
Spending time with God changes people.
You Might Have Heard
"No one can really know God."
What's true: God is holy and far greater than us.
What the story is mainly about: God called Moses close and spoke with him. Moses came down shining. God wants to be known by his people.
Where Jesus is: On another mountain, Jesus's face shone like the sun, and Moses appeared with him (Matthew 17:2-3). In Jesus, the veil is gone.
Good News
Moses saw God's glory on the mountain and came down shining.
"His face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD" (34:29).
In Jesus, God's glory came down to us, with no veil. Everyone can see God's face in Jesus.
Moses met God in the cloud on the mountain and came down with a shining face. In Jesus, we see God's glory with no veil.
Big Idea
Moses went into the cloud of God's glory on the mountain and came down with his face shining. In Jesus, God's glory is shown with no veil.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that we can't look directly at God's glory. We see God where he shows himself to us: in Jesus, born and crucified for us.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. It reads Exodus 24:12-18 on Transfiguration Sunday in Year A, and Exodus 34:29-35 on Transfiguration Sunday in Year C.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Come up to Me on the mountain and stay here
How did that feel?
You finished Moses on the Mountain.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Transfiguration of Our Lord Year AFirst reading, Exodus 24:12–18
- Transfiguration of Our Lord Year CFirst reading, Exodus 34:29–35
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Moses on the Mountain, explained in plain words. Moses walks into the cloud of God's glory and comes down with his face shining. About 7 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/moses-on-the-mountain/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church