The Veil

In Exodus 34,  we first hear about the veil that Moses wore to cover his face.  He'd gone up into the mountain to meet God and received the Ten Commandments on stone.  And when he came down the mountain, he didn't even know that his face shone.  Aaron and all the Israelites were afraid to come near him.  Moses told them everything that God had commanded them and then he went and put a veil on his face and kept it there unless he was meeting with God.

Now I always thought Moses put the veil on his face because the people were afraid--they were overwhelmed with the glory of God.  And maybe that was the reason in the beginning.  But this morning, I read II Corinthians 3 and actually "got it!"    Verse 13 says, "Nor (do we act) like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing (splendor which had been upon it)."  Then that chapter goes on to say that there is a veil on the minds of those trying to live by the law.  But once they repent, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

Moses put (or kept) the veil on his face so the people wouldn't see the glory fading.  Isn't that interesting?  I think when we choose sin, we also put on that veil.  Our pride covers us so others can't see the glory fading.  And then imagine a husband and wife both with a veil over their faces--how do they "see" one another?  How do they get honest with one another?

But the wonderful news is in verse 16:  "But whenever a person turns (in repentance) to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away."  It's simple, but not easy...in fact, it's costly.  The way to be unmasked is to repent---turn to God and ask His forgiveness.  Then we can see clearly.  And the glory returns when we meet with Him.

The chapter ends with this verse:  "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom)."  I'd say removing the veil is definitely worth it!