OUTSIDE THE CAMP. EXODUS 33 The consequences of idolatry were severely harmful in many ways. The 3000 who died were buried, each serving as a reminder of God's holiness and humanity's stubborn sinfulness. The grieving families were forever changed. The gravity of sin was driven home to everyone. Still, it's doubtful that many even now realize how destructive sin truly is and how much fellowship with God is lost when someone indulges their fleshly passions in any way or place. They remained part of the promised seed of Abraham. They still had an angel of the Lord to guide them and clear the way - but they would be on their own.
God withdrew from them and sent a representative angel to go before them. As proof of their remorse, they were told to remove all the ornaments they wore. That was a sign of repentance and commitment to renewal to God because He was no longer in their midst. They were exposed for who and what they truly were without embellishments. It is much more important to know how we appear before God than how we look to other people. “God looks on the heart.”
They had made it clear they had their own way of wanting things to be, and the lesson about self-will had not been fully learned. They would have to go without God. He would not be among them. They mourned what they lost but not in repentance for their actions. Some actions taken by God's people will have lasting effects from which we can never fully recover.
Moses set up his tent far outside the camp and called it “the tabernacle of the congregation,” which might be better called “the tent of meeting.” This was a temporary place to meet with God “outside the camp.” It was clear to those looking at that distant tent that God had gone there because they saw the pillar of cloud descend and stay at the tent's door. It was obvious for everyone that God spoke to Moses there, not in the camp where the sinful people gathered.
The temporary tent where Moses met with God was taken down, and Moses carried it far away from where the children of Israel were camped. They saw it set up in the distance, and Moses went inside to speak with the Lord. The people of God felt remorse when they learned they had to stand on their own, and out of guilt, they removed all their fine clothes and ornaments. They had to face themselves as they truly were. They were undoubtedly afraid, but only those who truly loved the Lord went outside the camp to the meeting place. Most just stayed at the entrance of their tents, wondering what was coming next. They worshipped where they were, which was good, but they weren’t worshipping where God was.
Other people would easily see everyone outside the camp as they walk past the tents and beyond the last one to reach that distant meeting place. We may know what is right and realize God is working, but unless we "go forth unto Him outside the camp," there is no real fellowship with God and those who want to be separated from others to God. Many believers step away from the world, but to separate unto the Lord is something else. That cost is something many are not willing to pay.
The clear presence of God in that outside area was easily observable. The pillar cloud was at the entrance of that place, not among the people. Moses held that special role of responsibility and privilege in meeting with God as the mediator for the people. However, Joshua was nearby. He remained outside to guard it against intruders or to be in personal fellowship with God – or perhaps for both reasons.
This place of meeting with God was never meant to be a "fun place" like many modern churches. This was where God was; Joshua would be there even if Moses weren't. Joshua must have been aware of his own need for God and of the sincerity and humility of everyone who came to where God was. Others watched and experienced God's blessings but not God's presence.
When Moses spoke with God, he again pleaded on behalf of the people. He understood that life is meaningless without God's presence. The emptiness of rituals without genuine substance offers no true joy, even if people gather to be entertained or to feel good about themselves. Those who have experienced the blessing of real fellowship with God often find themselves in the role of an intercessor for others. Moses had known God's grace, and based on that, he earnestly asked the Lord to intervene once more for the Israelites and to be with them again.
The servant understood his need to know that God would accomplish the task of leading His people to the promised land. He appreciated the value of God's grace and His presence. He begged the Lord not to withdraw His presence from them. He appealed to the fact that this nation was God's chosen people. He was worried that the Lord wouldn't be with him as he led the people. To him, an angel was not enough to replace God's presence. God had chosen him for this special duty, and he was aware of his dependence on God Himself to fulfill it.
May we always keep our focus on God's presence. May we never let anything divert us from God's truth and the practice of His revealed will. It is crucial for us to recognize the importance of separating from the world. Every believer should remember that God is with us every step of our journey. It is also essential for us to realize that we are separated from others for Him.
Moses appreciated God’s presence, but he sought reassurance that God would be with them and travel alongside them. God reassured him, saying, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” God agreed to Moses’ request because he had found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and the Lord knew him intimately. Still, Moses wanted further confirmation by seeing God’s glory – he wanted physical proof that He was important during that difficult time.
In grace, God responded with compassion for His deeply grieved and disillusioned servant by revealing His goodness but not His face. He did not want Moses to die, which would have happened if Moses had seen God’s face. God is not known to us by His appearance but by His actions. God provided a safe place for Moses where he would be safely covered by the presence of God’s holy glory, and then He went even further by putting out His hand to cover Moses even more as He passed by. Then Moses was allowed to see God’s back, and the glory was revealed there, but he could not look at God’s face.
Moses saw God's glory in a visible way, which deeply affected and reassured him. God prioritized revealing His goodness and absolute moral purity. He would show not only His goodness but also His grace. That grace was given where God intended it to be seen and experienced by His people. God was going to demonstrate His mercy on those who needed it.
The true attributes of God clearly reveal His character to His people. When the Lord Jesus was here, He came "full of grace and truth." His mercy toward the undeserving was shown again and again. We see God in the face of Jesus Christ. God has been publicly revealed through Him—His life, His walk, and His words. We can observe these today when we go to Him outside the camp. How desperately we need to have God in our midst. How much do we lose if we settle for standing in our "tent door" and watching others go out to Him?