God"s withdrawal from Israel created problems for Moses as Israel"s mediator. If God was not going to enter into covenant relationship to Israel as He had first described ( Exodus 13:21-22), how could Moses lead the nation (cf. Exodus 3:11; Exodus 3:13)? This is the focus of Moses" first request ( Exodus 33:13). He wanted reassurance that God Himself would lead Israel in the wilderness. [1] God assured him that He would continue to go with His people and thus provide the rest that His presence among them inspired ( Exodus 33:14). God gave another dramatic revelation of Himself similar to the one that He had formerly given at Sinai ( Exodus 19:9-25). [source][source][source]
Moses" second request was that God might confirm him as God"s chosen mediator among the Israelites. He also asked that God might confirm the nation as His chosen people in view of the change in the relationship ( Exodus 33:16). [source][source][source]