Question:
Did Moses and the children see God physically, according to Exodus 24:10-11? If this is true, does God not contradict Himself in his word?
Answer:
“Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.” (Exodus 24:9-10)
They were permitted to see his feet, but no man can see his face and live. No mortal eye can bear the dazzling brightness of the glory of the face of God. It far exceeds the light of the sun. For the prophet says, “Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.” (Isaiah 30:26). Notwithstanding this seven-fold light that is then to shine, the prophet speaking of the scene says, “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.” (Isaiah 24:23). The testimony of John is, “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21:23).
Unbelievers claim that there is a contradiction in the testimony of Moses because he said he talked with God face to face. There was a cloud between them (Exodus 19:9; Matthew 17:5, etc.), for God told Moses, “No man shall see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20). Moses further testifies that, “The LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.” (Deuteronomy 4:12). The Testimony of the New Testament is in harmony with that of the Old upon this subject. “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:16). “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” (Hebrews 12:14). Who with mortal eyes could behold a light that far outshines sevenfold the brightness of the sun? Indeed none but the holy can behold him; none but immortal eyes could bear that radiant glory. Although the Word says we cannot see God now and live, the promise is that the pure in heart shall see him. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4).
They saw the God of Israel; that is, they saw the place where the God of Israel stood. They had some glimpse of his glory in light and fire, though they saw no manner of similitude. Whatever they saw was undoubtedly something of which no image nor picture could be made, yet enough to satisfy them that God was with them of a truth.
