Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 2/20/2009

Question
What does it mean in Deuteronomy 34:10 that Moses saw God face to face? I thought no man had seen God.  also, did God himself bury Moses, and why?

Answer
Hi Charlotte,

God spoke with moses personally, but Moses only saw God's hinder parts.  

Exodus 33:20-23
20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Yes God buried Moses.  I am not sure why.

Deuteronomy 34:5-6
5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don