As we look at the last chapter and these two chapters, we see the fundamental dilemma we face as human beings. God is holy, and because of His Holiness, we cannot enter His presence. His glory is too much for us. Yet, at the same time, life apart from His presence is no life. A life, even one where we receive all the blessings of God, but do not have God Himself is hollow and empty. Moses and the people of Israel recognize that the promised land without the One who promised it, is not worth living in.
A Holy God can only live amongst a sinful people by grace, and by that grace, God’s glory shines even brighter.