John Calvin Commentary Exodus 33:21

"and Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock:" — Exodus 33:21 (ASV)

And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me. This description may indeed appear childish, but it is well adapted to our imperfection. Nor will anyone despise it who is duly conscious of their own weakness and ignorance. There seems to be a contradiction between these two things: that the beauty of God should be shown to Moses, and yet that the sight of Him should be refused. This difficulty is resolved here, for Moses was to see God only from behind. It is an analogy taken from human experience, where we only partially recognize people if their face is turned away; clear recognition is obtained only by seeing the face and countenance.

The fissure or hole in the rock was like a narrow and indirect window. Such a window admits the sun’s rays to an extent that someone confined in a deep and dark place may receive some benefit from the light, yet never see the sun itself nor enjoy its full brightness. In the same way, we, as if imprisoned in our bodies, cannot behold God’s glory freely and directly. Instead, He illuminates us indirectly, so that we at least see Him from behind.

I do not speak of everyone, but of the most perfect among us, such as Moses was. Although he obtained the extraordinary privilege recorded here, he still could not endure God’s glory due to the weakness of his flesh. Therefore, the hand of God intervened, so that he would only see Him in part.

By God’s hand is meant the darkness with which He was covered, to prevent the eyes of Moses from straining out of curiosity to see further than was lawful. Some³⁷⁵ refer to my back parts as the fullness of time, when Christ was manifested in the flesh, as if God were saying, “You shall not see me until I am clothed in human nature.” This is a subtle speculation, but by no means sound; indeed, it is entirely far from the genuine meaning.

³⁷⁵ “Tertullian referreth these backer or latter parts to the latter times of the Messiah: My glory which thou desirest to see, shall be revealed in the latter times.” — Willet in loco. Owen’s exposition of this passage is worthy of quotation: “The face of God, or the gracious majesty of his Being, his essential glory, is not to be seen of any in this life; we cannot see him as he is. But the glorious manifestation of himself we may behold and contemplate. This we may see as the back parts of God; that shadow of his excellencies which he casteth forth in the passing by us in his works and dispensations. This Moses shall see. And wherein did it consist? Why, in the revelation, and declaration of this name of God. Owen’s exposition of this passage is worthy of quotation: “The face of God, or the gracious majesty of his Being, his essential glory, is not to be seen of any in this life; we cannot see him as he is. But the glorious manifestation of himself we may behold and contemplate. This we may see as the back parts of God; that shadow of his excellencies which he casteth forth in the passing by us in his works and dispensations. This Moses shall see. And wherein did it consist? Why, in the revelation, and declaration of this name of God. Exodus 34:6, 7. To be known by this name, to be honored, feared, believed, as that declares him, is the great glory of God.” — Owen’s Expos. of . To be known by this name, to be honored, feared, believed, as that declares him, is the great glory of God.” — Owen’s Expos. of Psalm 130. (Edin., edit. 1851, vol. 6, p. 481.). (Edin., edit. 1851, vol. 6, p. 481.)