Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/345

Rh own wise way God meant it for good, that Israel might the better fulfil its mission of being a blessing unto mankind.

We can not help thinking of that other beautiful story from our Bible, of Moses asking that he might behold God's face, and of the answer which came to him, "Thou canst not see My face, for man shall not see Me and live" (Exodus XXXIII, 20). So it has ever been with man. Ever he has sought to see God's face, and to know all His ways and all His wise and loving purposes. But ever the answer has come back, "Thou canst not see My face, for man shall not see Me and live". To mortal man it is not given to see God face to face, nor to read aright all the wondrous mystery of His ways and His purposes. We can only, at the most, through God's favor, catch some fleeting glimpse of His back, and hear His true name whispered, as He passes before us in all His majesty and glory. Yet from all this we may form some dim, vague picture of His true greatness and goodness and love. In all the world round about us, in all the events of life and history, of Israel's history, and of our nation's history, and of the world's history, we see countless evidences of God's being and power, and of His wisdom and goodness and love, and of His divine, all-protecting providence. God is everywhere and His hand is in all things, for good and blessing and love. And so we declare with the Psalmist