Peniel

After wrestling all night with an angel, Jacob got to see the face of God. The text implies that it was the face of the Man who wrestled with him. In that man's face, Jacob saw the face of God. It is a clear foreshadowing of the coming of the God-man, the man whose face is God's face. Our text this evening contains another clear foreshadowing of the coming of the God-man. The face of Moses was not God's face, and did not become God's face. But it was a face resplendent with the glory of God. God's glory shone in Moses' face. That in itself is really cool, and one sense the truth contained in that statement is plenty enough for us to chew on tonight: God's glory shines in the Mediator's face.

But there's even more in this text, for when we read Paul's inspired commentary on it in 2 Cor. 3, we see further that Moses' glory was comparatively puny and short-lived; it was being brought to an end. Yet the glory of Moses glorifies the glory of Christ. The glory that shone on Moses is swallowed up by the glory that shines in the Mediator of the New Covenant. Look at that glory tonight, and see the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Jacob saw God's face and lived; in this sermon, you will too.