How was it that Moses, who had seen God in so many visions and to whom he had spoken 'as man is wont to speak to his friend', should now ask God to reveal himself as though these former theophanies, which we believe on the authority of the scriptures’ had never been ? Has he who showed himself over and again really not yet appeared to Moses? And yet the divine voice does now in some sort grant this prayer, not denying this grace, yet dashing Moses's hopes again by explaining that the desire of his heart is beyond the capacity of mortal man. But God also says that there is 'a place' near him, and in this place ‘a rock’, and ‘a cleft' within the rock where he bids Moses go. There God’s right hand will protect the face of his servant while Hepasses, and when he has gone by, Moses shall see his back. Thus Moses will believe he has seen God who is the goal of his desire, and the promise of the divine voice shall not be void.