When the children of Israel saw how radiant the skin of Moses’ face had become, they were afraid to come near him. The development of events following the breaking of the promise the Israelites had made (‘Whatever the Lord has said, we will do’ [cf. Exodus 19:8]) mirrors the chain of events that took place after Adam and Eve had eaten of the fruit. Just like in the Genesis account of creation, the children of Israel suddenly become aware of the change in Moses’ appearance after the latter’s meeting with the Lord. It is an awareness that brings fear into the community- a fear that makes them hesitant to approach Moses! While Moses had all along been meeting and conversing with the Lord, the Israelites had never before noticed a change in his appearance in order to become afraid of him. Something had changed. But it was not Moses (we must assume that anytime Moses had gone up the mountain to meet the Lord, the Lord’s glory effected a change in his appearance). And it was not God either. What had changed was the community's relationship with the Lord.
In the Genesis story of the Fall, Adam and Eve hid from God (their eyes are ‘opened’ and they realize that they are not worthy of God’s presence) as soon as they heard the sound of God’s footsteps. Adam and Eve suddenly became afraid of God who all along had been their friend and companion. They were no longer as free with God as they were earlier on. They were now looking upon God not as their friend but as someone to be feared. The horizontal relationship that had existed between them was now replaced by a vertical one.
The breaking of the promise which the Israelites had made to God changed their relationship with God (and by extension with Moses). Their action had served to create a barrier between them and God. God had now become a taker of life, not a giver of life. God’s presence would be henceforth turned into a dreaded place, and mortals would be required henceforth to ‘cover their heads’ while before God. Even God’s commandments had ceased from being life-giving set of words to words that condemn.