Second Sunday of Easter (OT)

Exodus 33:10-20
10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. 11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
12 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
17 And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ex 33:10–20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Moses makes a similar request to Thomas. Moses wonders how he can be sure that the LORD will not turn his back on the people of Israel. Will the presence of the LORD remain with his people as they go up to the Land of Canaan? This question allows for Moses to make the request to see the glory of the LORD. He desires to see God of himself.

Here is the interesting rub. Thomas requests to see the glorified or risen Savior, just like Moses. St Thomas gets to see his Lord and put his fingers into Jesus hands. But Moses is not allowed. Moses is told, " And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

But the disciples of Jesus have already seen Jesus. St John references the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among them. Jesus Christ has been in the flesh as the full revelation of God. Our Savior appeared in his Glory before the disciples during his earthly life. Thus, now we get to have access to the full glory of God because Jesus Christ has redeemed us from our sins.

All humans are conceived and born sinful. Moses was a sinful man. St Thomas was redeemed through the sacrifice of Christ. This side of Good Friday, we have been given life before our Lord Jesus Christ. He has given us life and faith. Moses request may not actually much different from Thomas' but they both get a satisfactory answer.