God spoke to Moses advising him to take the people to the land which he promised to Abraham, Jacob and Isaac. He told him he would send an angel to lead them to the promised land and also drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. All of these inhabitants would be chased from the land so that they could enjoy a rich and fertile land, be fruitful and multiply. God told them to tell the people that an angel would guide them but God preferred not to as the people were stubborn and hard headed. He did not want to be tempted to destroy them.
Moses told the people, just as God told him to. They removed their jewelery and began to mourn.
Each time as they traveled, that they camped, Moses would put up the sacred tent to commune with God. It was called the tent of the Lord's presence. When the Israelites saw this they would stand in the doorway of their own tents and watch Moses enter. After Moses entered the sacred tent the pillar of cloud would stay at the door of the tent and the Lord would speak to Moses from the cloud. When the people saw this, they would bow down and worship God.
Moses requested God to continue to lead them as it was God's presence that set them apart from all other people and he was afraid that others would think that God was no longer pleased with them. Because God knew and was pleased with Moses he did as Moses asked and continued with the people. Moses then made another request of God. He asked God if he could see His dazzling appearance. God told him that if he were to witness God's dazzling light He would not live so God would let him see his back only and would shield Moses from seeing His face.
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