Exodus 34:29-35 is the First Reading appointed for Transfiguration Sunday in the Year of Luke. This account of the shining face of Moses following his conversations with Yahweh is, of course, paired well with Luke's Gospel account of the Transfiguration. In both cases, the divine splendor of God is seen, here in the face of Moses. It will be the preacher's task to bring into focus why this splendor of God is both terrifying and life-giving.
(The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but have been developed to highlight the way the Word functions in the text, a fundamental concern of Law and Gospel preachers. This is a primary concern since the way the Word functions is the way the sermon must, at least in part, function also. For more on this method and on Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com and amazon.)
1. How does the Word function in the text? Verse 30 gives us a hint as to the Word's function in the text when we read that seeing the face of Moses, Aaron and all the leaders of Israel were afraid to approach him. This signals to the reader that we are in the presence of God's holiness, a function of the Law if there ever was one.
2. How is the Word not functioning in the text? There is no explicit word of promise here, no declaration of saving grace. Having said that, it is clear that the commandments which Moses is sharing with the people are life-giving. We might say that the Word functioning as Gospel is hidden.
3. With whom are you identifying in the text? We are in the place of the people of Israel in this text, both terrified by the holiness of God shone in Moses' face, and longing for the word of life which comes from the mouth of God.
4. What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text? The Word functioning to invite us to live in a certain way in response to the Gospel is not present here, yet certainly the expectation is that the commandments given to the people are meant to be obeyed. This is particularly the case in view of what happened just prior to this text when the making of a Golden Calf ended in idolatry and slaughter.
5. What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? The couplets that best go with this text would center around holiness. Some ideas: unholy/forgiven; terrified/comforted; lost/found.
6. Exegetical work: Nahum Sarna's excellent commentaries on the Pentateuch often offer insights and this text is no different. Sarna points out that in ancient Mesopotamia "supernatural radiance was thought to be shared by royalty and was a sign of the king's legitimacy." Similarly, "When [Moses] mediates the divine word to the people, his radiance authenticates the source of his message." (The JPS Torah Commentary, Exodus, p. 221). Terry Fretheim, in his own commentary, concurs: "[The shining] gives a prominence to the mediator of the word of God in the community of faith. There is a reflection of the effulgence of the glory of God himself in the face of Moses. As such, it is made clearer that Moses is speaking for God." (Interpretation series, Exodus, p. 311). I like Justin Michael Reed's understanding of what he calls "Moses' frightening face." He says, "The word of God that the Israelites need to live by ironically comes from Moses' frightening face. Furthermore, this incongruous pairing of that which is terrifying and nurturing comes about because of Moses' proximity to God." (Working Preacher, Feb. 2022).
7. How does the Crossings Community model work with this text? In his 2016 post, Marcus Felde does a superb job of lifting up both the Law and Gospel in this text. On one hand, no one, not even Moses, was allowed to see the face of God and live. On the other hand, to see the face of God in Jesus is life itself. See the entire post at crossings.org/text-study.
8. Consider the insights of the pioneers of the New Homiletic? I can imagine Eugene Lowry's strategy of moving listeners from disequilibrium to equilibrium quite nicely in this text. On one hand, to be in God's presence is very disquieting as God is holy and we are not. On the other hand, to experience the presence of the Advocate alongside of us in God's presence quiets our fears.
Blessings on your proclamation!
