We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. קָרַן shine, wear, possess or display horns. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used once in the sense to have horns, to have bony outgrowth on the head. Psalm 69:31 This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull מַקְרִ֥ןwith horns and hoofs. The other three uses of our word is in the sense to shine with a beam, to emit light, be bright, as of the sun or a light. And all of these uses are in our chapter. Exodus 34:29-35 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face קָרַ֛ןshone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face קָרַ֖ןshone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face קָרַ֔ןwas shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him. Moses covered up his face with a veil because the people were afraid to come near to him. It is interesting that his intimate time with God changed his appearance in such a visible way. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul uses this event with Moses to instruct believers. The first thing that is taught is that the new covenant or agreement is so much better than the old one because it is the only way for us to be saved and be connected to God. This makes it much more glorious than the old one in that even the old one had glory as seen in Moses face shining. The new one is far greater. The other thing that is taught is how this new relationship with God because of this new agreement gives us such hope that we can be bold in our sharing God’s grace with others. I’ll close with this great teaching. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 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.
