Dr. Couch, what is going on in Exodus 24:9-18? Did Moses see actually God in human form?
This at first glance seems to be a tough passage. But looking carefully
at all that is said here, it is not. While the passage does say the
elders and Moses “say the God of Israel,” what is really happening?
Verses 9-10 may be the summary section of the passage. The details
are spelled out in the verses that follow. “Seeing God” may simply mean
they witnessed some kind of effusion that reflected His glory. (Effusion
means “a pouring forth”) The verses go on and tell us that Moses and
Joshua then go up closer on the mountain, and into a thick cloud. The
Lord spoke out of the cloud. From the cloud His glory was made manifest.
If Moses and the elders did see God in human form, it would have been
the Angel of Jehovah, or God in revealed physical form, that is, the
second person of the Trinity, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is
the only member of the Trinity who was revealed in flesh. In many ways,
this Exodus 24 passage is not strange. The Angel of Jehovah (God) made
many appearances throughout the Old Testament. (Jacob even wrestled with
God [Christ]) And those who heard His voice and saw Him in physical
form knew they were standing before God but the full revelation of the
Son, and the fact that He would appear in flesh on a permanent basis,
had not been completely explained.
The apostle John, and Christ, made it clear that God the Father is
Spirit and that no one has ever seen Him (John 1:18; 4:24).
Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
