And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished (2 Corinthians 3:13 KJV)

Scripture uses the term “veil” in different settings to refer to whatever covers our eyes from seeing God. The “eyes” and “seeing” are not used for knowing or experiencing God and not in their usual physical sense of seeing. Therefore a veil is whatever keeps people from knowing God or experiencing His power and presence.

Spiritual veils cover people’s hearts, not their faces. Paul says, “But even unto this day when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart” (2 Corinthians 3:15 KJV). When Moses came down from Sinai, he put a physical veil over his face because his face was glowing. However, this physical veil on his face was symbolic of a spiritual veil on the hearts of the Israelites, covering their “eyes” from truly knowing God.

The scripture also reveals at least significant types of spiritual veils. First is the veil of the god of this world(Satan) that blinds unbelievers from seeing or accepting Jesus ( 2 Cor. 4:4). Second is the veil of the Tabernacle, which separated the people from God’s presence. Hebrews 10:20 later revealed that this veil was Jesus’s body that had to be sacrificed for us to come to know the Father in the Holy of Holies. 

The third veil is the Law. Paradoxically, the Law blinded the Jews from truly knowing who God was. Rather than revealing God, the Law redirected the people’s focus on themselves and the religion of the Law. Think about this: the experts of the Law of Moses( the scribes and lawyers) did not recognize Jesus( Jehovah in the flesh) when He came amongst them, but they spent their life studying the Law. 

What about us today? What could prevent us from knowing God or experiencing His power and presence? Since the three pertinent veils above have been removed in Christ, the believer’s problem today is what we could call “functional veils” or spiritual blindness in general. For instance, a  lack of understanding will prevent us from knowing God(Eph. 1:18-20), while a  lack of faith will hinder us from seeing His power and glory( John 11:40).

I leave you with this description of who you are in Christ: 

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV) 

What could be preventing you from knowing or experiencing God in any area of your life? 

The application of this devotional is simple: remove any veil from your eyes! Jesus already removed what He had to remove; do not let anything, including religion or doctrine, blinds your eyes from God’s presence and power.

Ask the Father to help you remove every veil that could be covering your face.  

Read & Watch

The veil of the Temple was torn

What are Spiritual Eyes?

The mystery of spiritual blindness

What is a Devotional?

View all Deshen Daily devotionals including today’s devotional.

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