Why does the bible say no person can see Gods face?

Question

And then there are scriptures that say many did, like Moses for one. Whats up with that?

Answer 1

Because the glory of God is too much for us. There are no contridictions in the Bible. Moses didn't see God's face, but His backside. That's OT.

But, Jesus Christ is God. God wants a relationship with us. He came down as man, so we COULD see His face.

You all can pick apart the Bible all you want, but when you come to God, you don't come by "feelings", you make the DECISION to believe His Word. He then opens your eyes and hearts, and you will understand where before you didn't.

Answer 2

Ok, despite the responses that several had to this question, this is not a biblical contradiction. Much like Brown said Moses saw God but not actually His face. The Bible does say that "the LORD spake unto Moses face to face". However, though God was physically present this does not mean that they were looking at each other eye to eye, it means that they were having an actual conversation. God even tells Moses "I will make all my goodness pass before thee... [but] thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live." So God tells Moses to go into a hollow place in the mountain and I will "cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." So you see, there is no contradiction, just some misinterpretations. In fact, the Bible goes on to say in the New Testament that the knowledge of God's glory is "in the face of Jesus Christ."

Peace, love, and happiness...

Answer 3

I agree, this seems contradictory, doesn't it? God Almighty was seen at Exodus 6:2-3, which means it was not the Angel of the Lord, for an angel is not God Almighty. Moses saw God, not in a vision or dream, as the LORD Himself attests in Num. 12:6-8. If these verses mean what they say, then we naturally assume we have a contradiction.

Actually, the contradiction exists in our understanding, not in the Bible--which is always the case with alleged biblical contradictions. The solution is simple: all you need to do is accept what the Bible says as fact. If the people of the OT were seeing God and Jesus said that no one has ever seen the Father (John 6:46), then they were seeing God Almighty, but NOT the Father -- i.e. someone else in the Godhead (Trinity). I suggest that they were seeing the Word before He became incarnate as Jesus Christ.

If God is a Trinity, then John 1:18 is not a problem either because in John Chapter 1, John writes about the Word (Jesus) and God (the Father). In verse 14 it says the Word became flesh. In verse 18 it says no one has seen God. Since Jesus is the Word, "God" then refers to God the Father. This is typically how John writes of God: as a reference to the Father. We see this verified in Jesus' own words in John 6:46 where He said that no one has ever seen the Father. Therefore, Almighty God was seen, but not the Father. It was Jesus before His incarnation. This is actually proof the doctrine of the Trinity is true.

Answer 4

The account in Exodus 33 (and surrounding context) about Moses concerns two things. First Moses met with God in the tabernacle and spoke to Him face to face as a man speaks with a friend. God did manifest His Glory in the tabernacle where the ark of the covenant rested. Second on Mount Sinai, Moses requested to see the face of God and God showed him is back (the after effects as His glory passed by) instead, because the Lord said that no man could see His face and live. Moses wrote about both in the same book and both examples happen within a short period of time in Moses' life; therefore it is unlikely that he is contradicting himself. In the first example the reference is to speaking moreso than seeing; and the second example places the emphasis on the seeing.

Answer 5

I can not remember the exact chapter,it is clearly written no man can look upon the face of God and live.God called moses His close and intimate friend,Moses asked to see his face and God said no,He passed by and let Moses see his
shadow.Moses never saw Gods face, no contradiction here.

Answer 6

If you're here, it's game on, solve the "mystery" in time.
Pst - it's a game of Life or Death; Safety switch is Off !
PLAINLY speaking: Globe-ALL Extinction or Salvation;
For "you" and for all the kingdom of God "within you",
in the ultimate virtue-all reality God Shew, Shewdown.
It's The Third Day is The Seventh Day is The Last Day.
http://www.godshew.org/ThirdDay.htm

It's "Allegory" & "Mystery"...Even a TRIPLE Mystery:
- "THE MYSTERY of God": which God of options?
- "AND of the Father": also which Father of Fathers?
- "AND of Christ": if told false Christs shall arise?
Pst - click "salvation" link @ top right to solve it in time
http://www.godshew.org/Usward.htm

MANY shall come...to DECEIVE...shall deceive MANY.
What part of the first and last "MANY" did you not get?
Perhaps you missed the "TAKE HEED" 101 class.
Perhaps you also missed "Give more earnest heed".
Of "no escape" & "escape": latter involves the above.
http://www.godshew.org/RevelatorySermons32.htm

Of such (plural & "contrary") "scriptures",
written "aforetime" for y(our) "learning",
what saith the "script-u-are" of "scriptures"?

What saith the Spirit, x 7, "unto the churches";
If Galatians the book written "unto the churches"?
http://www.godshew.org/Revelations7.htm#23

From "EVIDENCE" provided, what's "EVIDENT"?
See Galatians 3:11,12 for the Pauline Summation.
http://www.godshew.org/Paul.htm

JC: "GO ye(do err) and LEARN what meaneth":
"I will have mercy, and not sacrifice": Mt 9:13.
Pst - the "not" part of it is not then, not now, not ever.
Pst - do will of God PRECEDES receive the promise.
http://www.godshew.org/GodShew4.htm
http://www.godshew.org/Hebrews11.htm

Easter 07 in Third Day = Seventh Day = Last Day?
http://www.godshew.org/Easter.htm

Perhaps season-all time to re-THINK the crucifixion IF:
what God NEVER desired & will NOT have: "sacrifice":
http://www.godshew.org/Sacrifice.htm

Pst - When "seeing" we also are compassed about,
then the grace walk becomes an end "run": Heb 12,
involving "weight" loss to make it "alive unto God" to

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 7

The Bible stated that God spoke to Moses face to face (meaning one to one) in Exodus 33:11 and not that Moses saw Him face to face. In Exodus 33:23 God allowed Moses to see His back but not His face. Man cannot see God in his natural body ie his flesh but God may allow man to see Him in dreams or visions face to face. Under the New Covenant a Christian with God's righteousness and being in Jesus can see God who is Spirit in the spirit.

Answer 8

Moses asked to see God's Face. But God said No! But he let Moses see the back of God and for this appearance, Moses aged 40 years.

The flesh cannot see God's face, for it will die. God is Spirit.

Answer 9

You have to understand that when the Bible says that Moses saw God face to face it doesn't mean that Moses actually saw God in his full manifested glory. Compare this passage.

Exodus 33:18 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." 21 And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."

Answer 10

Moses saw the Glory of God. He didn't actually see his face. And Moses face was aglow just from that alone.
The people in the town could not stand to look at Moses b/c of the powerful light.