Deuteronomy 32:20
And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God declares He will "hide His face," not to abandon them in anger, but to deliberately observe their final outcomes. This signifies a calculated withdrawal of His active protection to let their choices—their "froward" and "faithless" nature—play out to their natural, and often harsh, conclusion. It’s a sober assessment of their character and a testament to the predictable consequences of a lack of faithfulness.
In this song, Moses is channeling God's lament and judgment over Israel's impending disobedience and unfaithfulness. God has been incredibly good to them, delivering them and establishing them in their land, yet they have repeatedly turned to other gods and broken their covenant. This passage reflects God's decision to withdraw His direct favor, observe the consequences of their choices, and ultimately bring about judgment for their persistent perversity.
When God seems distant, it's not always abandonment. Sometimes, it's a deliberate pause, a space for consequences to unfold.
The phrase 'I will hide my face from them' in Deuteronomy 32:20 isn't about God being unaware or unable to see. Instead, it signifies a conscious decision to withdraw His protective presence and guidance. This isn't a rash reaction but a measured response to persistent unfaithfulness. By hiding His face, God allows the natural, often painful, consequences of their actions to become their teacher. It's a solemn step, demonstrating that while God is longsuffering, His patience has limits when met with deliberate rebellion.
What does it truly mean to be a 'generation of perversity' and 'children in whom is no faithfulness'?
The core of Israel's failure, as described in Deuteronomy 32:20, lies in their lack of faithfulness. The Hebrew word translated as 'faithfulness' (emunah) here carries a deep sense of steadfastness, reliability, and truth. It's not just about intellectual belief but about unwavering commitment and trustworthiness, especially in their covenant relationship with God. They are a 'generation of perversities' (literally, a generation of 'upturnings' or 'overthrows'), constantly shifting their allegiance and reliability. This inherent unreliability means they cannot be depended upon. Their 'end' that God will 'see' is the inevitable outcome of this fundamental lack of commitment.
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Understand the original words
satar panim · Hebrew Verb phrase
A withdrawal of God's favor, presence, and blessing, often serving as a judgment against the persistent sin and rebellion of the people.
tahpukah · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Twisted, corrupt, or crooked; describing a heart or character that has turned away from God's ways to follow its own sinful desires.
'emun · Hebrew Noun
Trustworthiness, steadfastness, or truthfulness; it refers to a firm, reliable moral character that reflects God's own nature.
This passage is spoken by Moses as a final address to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. It encapsulates God's deep disappointment with their persistent unfaithfulness, a pattern that spans their entire history from the Exodus to the impending conquest and beyond.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, establishing them as His chosen people and initiating their covenant relationship.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites wander in the desert for 40 years, during which God provides for them daily but also disciplines them for their frequent rebellion and lack of faith.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin the conquest of the Promised Land, a land described as flowing with milk and honey, fulfilling God's promises.
c. 1400-1050 BC
Period of the Judges
Following Joshua's death, Israel experiences cycles of disobedience, oppression by surrounding nations, and deliverance by appointed judges, highlighting their persistent unfaithfulness.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy (Saul, David, Solomon)
Israel experiences a period of national unity and relative peace, though seeds of future division and spiritual decline are sown.
975 BC
Division of the Kingdom
The united kingdom splits into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, a direct consequence of Solomon's and subsequent rulers' unfaithfulness.
c. 931 BC - 722 BC— this verse
Apostasy and Judgment of Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel increasingly turns to idolatry and rejects God's covenant, leading to prophetic warnings and eventual Assyrian conquest and exile.
This passage echoes the sentiment of Deuteronomy 32:20 by questioning 'what iniquity have your fathers found in me that they have gone far from me?' This highlights the theme of God's consistent faithfulness contrasted with His people's unfaithfulness and departure from Him.
Romans 3:23Paul's declaration that 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' provides a New Testament parallel to the description of Israel as 'children in whom is no faithfulness,' underscoring the universal human tendency towards sin and unreliability apart from God's grace.
Psalm 78:37This psalm laments, 'Their hearts were not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.' This directly reflects the core issue in Deuteronomy 32:20, emphasizing a lack of steadfastness and faithfulness to God's covenant as a recurring problem for His people.
Hebrews 10:30-31The author quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 ('Vengeance is mine, I will repay') to warn against rejecting God's grace, illustrating the consequences of unfaithfulness and the certainty of divine judgment, mirroring God's resolve in Deuteronomy 32:20 to 'see what their end will be'.
calvinDeuteronomy 32:1-52: "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth."
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Ipsi ad zelum provocaverunt me, in eo quod non est Deus, ad iracundiam me provocaverunt in vanitatibus suis: et ego ad zelum provocabo eos in eo qui non…
clarkeDeuteronomy 32:20: "And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith."
Children in whom is no faith - לא אמן בם lo emon bam, "There is no steadfastness in them," they can never be depended on. They are fickle, because they are faithless.
God declares He will "hide His face," not to abandon them in anger, but to deliberately observe their final outcomes. This signifies a calculated withdrawal of His active protection to let their choices—their "froward" and "faithless" nature—play out to their natural, and often harsh, conclusion. It’s a sober assessment of their character and a testament to the predictable consequences of a lack of faithfulness.
In this song, Moses is channeling God's lament and judgment over Israel's impending disobedience and unfaithfulness. God has been incredibly good to them, delivering them and establishing them in their land, yet they have repeatedly turned to other gods and broken their covenant. This passage reflects God's decision to withdraw His direct favor, observe the consequences of their choices, and ultimately bring about judgment for their persistent perversity.
In this song, Moses is channeling God's lament and judgment over Israel's impending disobedience and unfaithfulness. God has been incredibly good to them, delivering them and establishing them in their land, yet they have repeatedly turned to other gods and broken their covenant. This passage reflects God's decision to withdraw His direct favor, observe the consequences of their choices, and ultimately bring about judgment for their persistent perversity.
"And he said, ‘I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faithfulness." — God declares He will "hide His face," not to abandon them in anger, but to deliberately observe their final outcomes. This signifies a calculated withdrawal of His active protection to let their choi…
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