Face-to-face ∙∙

Face-to-face ∙∙

The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. – Exodus 33:11

Deuteronomy 34:10 There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.

Isaiah 43:1-4

1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you, says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”

2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
3 “For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . ..”
4 “Since you are precious in My sight, you are honored, and I love you . . ..”

Prosopagnosia, also called Face Blindness, is more than just “being bad with faces.” It is the inability to recognize familiar faces, including one’s own face. Learning to recognize new faces is also challenging. Prosopagnosia is a neurological neurological disorder that may affect up to 2.5% of the population.

The term was coined in 1947 by neurologist Joachim Bodamer. The word is derived from the Greek terms prosopon – face and agnosia – non-knowledge. Bill Choisser popularized “face blindness” in 1996. Imagine the emotional isolation of living in a constant state of unfamiliarity. How awful would it be not to be able to remember and recognize the faces of those you love and care about? It would be equally tragic not to remember and recognize those who love you. For those with face blindness, it is like living in a perpetual, horrid lack of facial recognition on Groundhog Day. At the beginning of the 21st century, no therapy provides lasting real-world improvements.

Modern facial recognition software began to be developed in the 1960s. However, the Father designed and created the first facial recognition firmware as part of the human brain. For most of us, it works just fine.

Can the Father ever forget us? Never! What he said of the nation of Israel is true for each child of the King. Prosopagnosia offers a poignant reminder of the enduring nature of the Father’s recognition. None of His children will ever forgotten.

Isaiah 43:1 O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you, says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 49:15-16

15 Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

REFLECT & PRAY

Moses alone stood face-to-face and spoke mouth-to-mouth with the Father.

Father, my heart yearns for the depth of intimacy and open dialogue that You once shared with Moses. Let me draw near to You, embracing the closeness and communion that Your love offers, as much as You will allow in my journey with You.

INSIGHT

The Father is transcendent, glorious, great, high, exalted, and lifted up. Yet the Father chose to make a creature with whom He could have close, real spiritual intimacy.

In the history of humanity, Moses stands alone as the one who conversed directly with the Father. The LORD spoke to Moses face to face as friends, a unique and inspiring relationship. Dare we aspire to do the same?

Exodus 33:11 The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.

Moses was exceptional. The Father chose him to serve as a mediator, receiving the sacred Law of God, which became the Torah, or the Five Books of Moses. But there’s more!

Numbers 12:8 I speak to him mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles!

This mouth-to-mouth communication was extraordinary, devoid of riddles or veils.
What does this extraordinary mouth-to-mouth mode of communication mean?

“God communicated with Moses ‘mouth to mouth.’ This figurative language is intended to convey the preeminence and uniqueness of Moses” (Sarna) as a prophet of God. The Father’s revelation to him was “personal and direct, not mediated through visions or dreams, and the message is always plain and straightforward, free of cryptic utterances” (Sarna).

One translation by Ronald B. Allen puts it like this:

Numbers 12:8 Face to face, I speak with him, in personal presence and not in riddles; he gazes on the semblance of Yahweh. Why then are you not terrified to speak against my servant, against Moses?

Only Moses was designated by the Father as “my prophet.” Only Moses was granted the incredible opportunity to ascend the holy mountain and see the Lord as He really is, ”beholding His form, likeness.” After these encounters, Moses’s face was aglow with the Lord’s radiance. Others might hear the words, only Moses sees God’s person. The experience of all others is somewhat secondhand, like an echo. What an incredible privilege and honor was that of Moses and Moses alone.

This metaphorical expression underscores Moses’ unique position as a prophet, receiving unmediated, clear revelations from the Father. Comprehending what it means to be in a face-to-face relationship with the Father and experience mouth-to-mouth communication is a journey from the obvious to the sublime.

The Father designed people to enter into a profound relationship with Him, where each child of the King knows and is known by Him. But the degree of such “knowing” varies greatly. This knowledge spans from mere recognition to profound intimacy. Face-to-face knowledge suggests closeness and awareness, while mouth-to-mouth speaks of direct, personal, and clear communication.

This is the essence of divine revelation, fully realized by Moses. Unlike other prophets who received messages through dreams or visions, Moses was fully awake and conscious. There were no visions or dreams. The Father engaged with Moses in straightforward, conscious dialogue.

Can you envision what this was like? With a bit of imagination, we can visualize the Father asking Moses, “Have you ever pondered the origins of the universe, the stars, and life itself?” The Father said, “Let me tell you how I did it.” “Let me share The Creation Story with you.” In a nanosecond, Genesis 1-3 passed from the mind of God to the mind of Moses. And Moses wrote it down.

Remember, only the Father witnessed creation; He spoke, and it was so. Instantly, the cosmos came into existence. Many people speculate, postulate, and even pontificate regarding how everything began, but they can only guess. That’s right, guess!

Down through the ages, one theory was replaced by another. But only the Father really knows for sure. Modern man extrapolates using a modicum of scientific knowledge. But the Father created both human thought and science.

In ancient courts, only a few trusted advisors, those who “see the king’s face,” could approach the monarch. Figures like Eliezer, Joseph, Nehemiah, and Daniel had such a privilege. Moses was the Father’s trusted friend and servant, enjoying a unique access that surpassed the typical prophetic experiences.

While typical Old Testament prophets received revelations through visions, dreams, angelic visits, and occasional visitations from the Father, Moses’ communication with the Father was uniquely profound. Unlike others, Moses engaged in direct, intimate conversations, experiencing face-to-face and mouth-to-mouth interactions that set him apart.

Dare we desire and seek such intimacy with the living God?

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© Dr. H 2024