They looked at his face and it frightened them . . . so he covered it. When they saw that the skin of his face shone, they were afraid to come near him . . . and so he wore a veil over his face after meeting with the Lord. Such was the dynamic concerning Moses, God, and the people (Ex. 34:29-35). The glory of God was so imprinted upon Moses that he reflected it . . . but it was frightening . . . though it eventually faded. It was the glory of the law, “which glory was passing away” (2Cor. 3:7) . . . it was the glory of the ministry of condemnation (2Cor. 3:9) . . . “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:20 NASB). It was a glory intended to lead to a greater glory . . . was veiled with the intention that the veil might be removed . . . it was hidden in times past, but now it is glory revealed!

What a glorious (I think I’ll be using that word a lot) portion of Scripture is 2Corinthians 3:7-18. It speaks of the glory of God revealed. That glory was present in the Old Testament . . . its impact was hinted at . . . but it was behind a veil . . . the veil of the law. When Moses stood before God, he removed the veil . . . put away the law . . . for His place on holy ground was at the invitation of the God of grace who made provision for that that hallowed privilege. But to see the remnant of that meeting upon Moses’ face frightened the people . . . and so he covered it . . . the people knew it was behind that cloth on his face . . . but they weren’t sure they wanted to interact with it. The veil also concealed the fact that the glory impact of the law was not lasting . . . it faded away. As long as the veil remained, the means to lasting communion with God remained a mystery . . . it still is to many today: “For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament . . . But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.” (3:14a-15).

“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away . . . because the veil is taken away in Christ.” (2Cor. 3:16, 14b)

Glory revealed!!!

The veil is removed and the ministry of condemnation, which had some glory, is supplanted by the ministry of righteousness which “exceeds much more in glory” (3:9). It is the ministry of the Spirit of life and liberty (3:6,17) . . . shining forth a “glory that excels. For if what was passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious” (3:10b-11). A glory revealed and a glory that will remain.

But even more amazing is that this glory revealed is a glory which changes those who encounter it . . .

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2Cor. 3:18 ESV)

For those who have encountered the “ministry of righteousness” . . . that righteousness which is by faith in the Son of God . . . that righteousness imputed to all who believe because of the redemptive work of Christ on the cross . . . for those who have encountered that righteousness, they have beheld the glory of the Lord in the gospel of glory . . . and, in a measure, they reflect that glory. And that’s just the beginning. The glory revealed to us will be the same glory revealed in and through us. A work has begun to transform us . . same word as “transfigure” (now there was some glory revealed on that mount!) . . . to transfigure us into the very image of the Son, the King of Glory. As the Spirit of life continues His work in us, revealing more and more of the glory of God to us, a spiritual metamorphosis occurs within us as we take on more of the mind and character of Christ and thus His glory is revealed through us. Our faces, as it were, shine with the evidence of having encountered the presence of God. It might frighten away some . . . but we’re not veiling it . . . for it is the glory of redemption . . . it is the “sun tan” of heaven starting to form from the inside out!

O’ God! . . . by Your grace . . . let Your glory be revealed! Amen!