There follows a period of suspense, during which the people mourned, and Moses set up a tent outside the camp. Here God came in the pillar of cloud to speak with him

1. What was God’s attitude at this time:
   (a) towards the people, and
   (b) towards Moses?
   What were Moses’ three petitions?
   What answers did God give?
2. How do the prayers and answers of this chapter show:
   (a) the growth of Moses’ desire and faith, and
   (b) the richness of God’s grace?

Notes

1. Verses 1-3. The cause of mourning seems to be that God threatens to revoke the promise of 25:8; 29:45, 46 and to return to the earlier method of guidance by is angels (cf. 14:19; 18:20-23).
2. Verse 7. This tent of meeting cannot be the tabernacle (although it was sometimes called by that name: 29:42-44; 35:21), because it was not yet built. It was apparently an ordinary tent pitched outside the camp during the period of suspense