In the history of Israel we find God revealing himself, so to speak, face to face with Moses at the Burning Bush. Moses sees a burning bush which was not consumed and when he approaches it he hears a voice calling him. It is the same God who spoke to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses wants to know his name and God said, "I Am" is my name. This points to the transcendence of God but at the same time He is the God who becomes present to his people the Israelites. He is a God who interacts with his people thereby becoming their personal God. It is written of Moses that "The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to another." (Ex 33:11) This very clearly denotes a personal encounter. But Moses at the Meeting Tent in the desert desired to see more of God and said, "Do let me see your glory!" (Ex 33:19) God's response to Moses was that He would reveal more of his beauty "But my face you cannot see, for no man can see me and still lives." (Ex 33:20)God passed by Moses with his glory but kept him hidden showing only his back meaning showing only His glory reflected in creation.

Belief in a personal God is especially evident in the Psalms where the Israelite is addressing God.

" Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.
Come," says my heart, "seek God's face"; your face, LORD, do I seek!
Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger."
(Ps 27:7-9)

The God of Israel was primarily a God of Justice and Mercy. In some English Bibles we find refrain in Psalm 136 translated as "His love endures forever." In the literal translation of the Bible as well as in the Hebrew-English rendition the word "mercy" is used in the place of "love".

What does mercy mean? "Mercy is the act of not administering justice when that justice is punitive. Because of our sinfulness we deserve death and eternal separation from God (Rom. 6:23; Isaiah 59:2), but God provided an atonement for sin and through it shows us mercy." In any event the Israelites knew that God cared for them and He had planned a destiny for them. The ultimate desire of Israel is to see God face to face.

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.
(Ps 17:15)

4. The Faceless God of Einstein