for the nation. Jehovah entrusted him ‘with all His house,’ using Moses as His intimate representative in organizing the nation. The later prophets simply continued to build on the foundation that had been laid through Moses. Although God had in the past spoken through angels to faithful men such as Noah and Abraham, and He had audibly conveyed the Ten Commandments to the entire nation by his angel on a single occasion, Jehovah spoke with Moses “mouth to mouth” or “face to face, just as a man would speak to his fellow.” (Ex. 33:9-11) Not merely on one or two occasions, but repeatedly Jehovah spoke to Moses, and Moses, in turn, talked to God, presenting problems for His direction and expressing his own feelings, and Jehovah answered him by his angel. No others of the prophets enjoyed such a continuous two-way conversational communication with God as Moses did in his capacity of mediator or go-between.​—Deut. 34:10.

Jehovah, by means of his angel on Mount Horeb, said to Moses: “You are not able to see my face, because no man may see me and yet live.” (Ex. 33:20) So, when Deuteronomy 34:10 speaks of “Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face,” it could never mean that Moses saw Jehovah’s very own face or person. And as the mouth is a part of the face, then when Jehovah said, “Mouth to mouth I speak to him,” it could not mean that Moses saw God’s face or was in direct, immediate contact with God. He merely had personal audience with God, by means of angels, who, as Jesus said in Matthew 18:10, “always [at necessary times] behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

The manner in which Jehovah dealt with Moses was so impressive that it was as if Moses actually had beheld God with his own eyes, instead of merely having a mental vision or a dream in which he heard God speak, which was the usual way in which God communicated with his prophets. Jehovah was never actually seen by Moses, and it was through angels that God spoke to him, but Jehovah’s dealings with Moses were so real that Moses reacted as if he had seen “the One who is invisible.” (Heb. 11:27) And the way in which the description was written down sounded and read as if Moses had seen and heard Jehovah God himself.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Accurate knowledge from God’s Word is vital for building a strong faith. From study of the Bible true Christians know how important faith with works is if one is to be well-pleasing in God’s sight. (Heb. 11:6) The book “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God” has proved to be faith-strengthening by helping honest-hearted persons to understand the Bible book of Revelation. From their own personal experience Jehovah’s witnesses have found what is stated at Revelation 1:3 to be true: “Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy.” During May they will be offering this faith-building publication to the public, along with a free booklet, on a contribution of 50c.

A REFERENCE WORK TO RELY UPON

If a book that claims to contribute toward a better understanding of the Bible views the Bible as simply the product of men and not an inspired document, would you have complete confidence in that book when it endeavored to explain to you the many features that go to make up the Bible’s account? Many modern dictionaries of the Bible and Bible commentaries contain much that is helpful and useful, but most also either openly or subtly deny the Bible’s accuracy and thereby undermine faith in it. In this regard, Aid to Bible Understanding is different. It accepts the Bible as the principal authority and is guided by it. The first volume of this valuable reference work, covering subjects from A to E, is now available. Send only $2.50.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

June 7: Baptism of Those Who Are Disciples. Page 297. Songs to Be Used: 24, 28.

June 14: Your Conscience Toward Jehovah. Page 304. Songs to Be Used: 29, 32.