Exodus 33:12-16

Exodus 33:12-16

[12] And Moses  said  unto the LORD,  See,  thou sayest  unto me, Bring up  this people:  and thou hast not let me know  whom thou wilt send  with me. Yet thou hast said,  I know  thee by name,  and thou hast also found  grace  in my sight.  [13] Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found  grace  in thy sight,  shew  me now thy way,  that I may know  thee, that I may find  grace  in thy sight:  and consider  that this nation  is thy people.  [14] And he said,  My presence  with thee, and I will give thee rest.  [15] And he said  unto him, If thy presence  go  not with me, carry us not up  [16] For wherein shall it be known  here  that I and thy people  have found  grace  in thy sight?  with us? so shall we be separated,  I and thy people,  that are upon the face  of the earth. 

What does Exodus 33:12-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

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).
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).