Removing the Veil

“And Moses would put the veil on his face again

until he went in to speak with [God].” 

Exodus 34:35b

The 34th chapter of Exodus speaks repeatedly of a veil.  It wasn’t worn by a bashful bride, but Moses, a great leader of the past. Nor was it put on for a wedding, but before and after direct conversations with God. Over the course of several verses he removes and reapplies the veil numerous times. Hold onto that picture as I remind you of the Biblical context. 

The Israelite man had returned to Mount Sinai for a second set of stone tablets. Moses’ first face-to-face meeting with God on the mountain had taken a long time. Not only had God dictated the 10 Commandments, but also instructions about property laws, an exact description of what the Ark of the Covenant was to look like, what vestments priests were to wear, and more. The full conversation is recounted in eleven chapters of Exodus and when it concludes, God provides the man with stone tablets listing the ten most significant rules. 

Moses was gone so long that some of the Israelites became convinced he had died. Chaos erupted among the people and led to, among other things, the worship of a Golden Calf. When Moses saw what was happening with the people, he threw down the stones in disgust and they broke, implying that the deal between God and humanity was off, too. After some intense negotiating, the man returns to the mountain, conversation with God resumes, and eventually Moses returns to the people.  Our verses picks up the story at that point.

“As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” The people are terrified by his change in appearance, but eventually draw closer and listen as he shares God’s law. The moment continues. “When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face, but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out” to share the latest word from God. That account then concludes “Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with [God].”

I’ve always liked that image of Moses lifting and removing a veil.  It calls to mind that painful chapter five years ago when masks were mandated and the term “social distancing” entered the public lexicon. Like the time of Covid-19, so did Moses use the veil as a way of minimizing harm to others. Perhaps he thought that his shining face would be a distraction to the Israelites as they began to act upon God’s mandates. We aren’t told. What we do know is that he removed the veil when speaking to God and the people, but otherwise kept it on. We can do just the opposite thing in more symbolic ways.  

It may not involve literal fabric, but many of us are quite adept at hiding our emotions. Little children don’t have that skill. You can readily see when they are excited or frightened, angry or sad. Adults are socialized to hide such feelings and in many cases that is appropriate. Most relationships could not survive if we were fully transparent with everyone;  if every thought that popped into our head got expressed. 

Yet when we wear a symbolic veil all the time other problems can arise. 

Communications experts disagree about the percentages, but all affirm that body language and tone of voice have a significant impact on what is heard. I’ ‘m told that I have a well-developed poker face which means that many times my true feelings to what I am hearing remains disguised. That can come in handy when people share criticism of me or are watching for signs of judgment while confessing troubling behavior. Still, it can also leave them to wonder what I truly think. Thus like Moses, there are times when I know that others need to see me more fully. I suspect that is true for many of you as well. Yet the fact of the matter is that even when we aren’t trying, people can learn important things about us.

One day years ago, I was jogging through a neighborhood near my community’s Central Park. Heading toward the path, I saw a woman carrying two small dogs. At the bottom of the driveway, she leaned over to pick-up the day’s newspaper and one of her pets broke free and ran across the street. “Come back. Snick!” she called. Snick was too busy.  I passed her at that point and she commented “Snick thinks he owns the street.” Just then her other dog escaped and joined the first. As I continued to run, I heard her shout, “Snickers, Skittles, come back here!”

At that moment, I found myself wondering if she had a third dog named “Almond Joy” or “Jelly Belly” as the pet monikers suggested a sweet tooth for the owner!  If true, I do not pass judgment as I share the same affliction. 

Still, I share that everyday moment to suggest there are times for you and me when we lift our metaphorical veils without knowing it, allowing others to see something of our true nature. I  would argue, too, that such unveiling, intentional or not, isn’t always a bad thing.  As it has the potential to begin some life-changing and much-need conversation.  Perhaps today will bring an occasion when you can give it a try. I’ll be interested to hear how it goes.

All-knowing One, you are aware of every thought despite my best efforts to hide them. Such knowledge between me and every person would not be wise, yet there are times when I unnecessarily keep my veil on. Help me to grow in discerning when it should be removed and when it should not. Amen.