Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Moses natural reaction to being in the glorious presence of God was to hide his face for he was afraid to look upon God. He was on holy ground. Hiding from God’s holiness in guilt and fear is the first human response. Adam hid himself from the presence of the Lord in the garden; Job responded to God’s answer out of the whirlwind, ”I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Isaiah saw the Lord in glory and said, ”Woe is me! For I am lost.” When Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish he realized God was present in Jesus, and he responded, ”Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Our first response to God’s Word, to His Law, and to His Holiness, is to hide from God in guilt and fear. Then God speaks a word of Gospel, proclaiming Love and forgiveness. The love of God overwhelms the fear, and forgiveness takes away the guilt. Then we respond in faith and love. And like Moses and the others we will do anything for Him. The Gospel turns fear into faith, guilt into mercy, sin into grace, selfishness into love, and hiding from His holy presence into basking in His loving presence.
Both Law and Gospel must be preached and heard; both fear and love is the proper response; both hiding from God and drawing near to God is the human condition. This cycle repeats until the Day of His Glorious Appearing. Do not fear to fear, but do not stay there; repent and believe the gospel. Then rejoice and live.