Exodus 34:29-31

“Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” vs. 29

According to Hebrew tradition, not only was Moses the one who had led them out of slavery, he was also the great law-giver. When the Israelites had encamped at Mt. Sinai, Moses had repeatedly climbed the mountain to consult with the Lord and to receive the commandments by which Israel was to live. Finally, after a brief episode of idolatry involving a golden calf, Moses brings them the final version of the law. It’s a spectacular moment for Moses and it was reported that the experience of talking with the Lord had caused his face to shine. While we don’t know exactly what that was like for Moses, we do know that close encounters with the divine can have discernible effects on a person’s appearance and demeanor. We could even describe such persons as having shining faces! It’s the sort of thing that can be seen and experienced among believers in moments of deep spiritual connection. Like Moses these believers will be so moved by the Spirit that they won’t even be aware that they’ve been changed, and that it’s visible to those around them. Those are amazing, almost scary moments, and we’re almost grateful when the intensity dissipates and the shining fades away, and life returns to normal. 

Thought for the Day: What causes faces to shine?