order to be called anew. Second, it symbolizes a withdrawal of protection so that the Israelites will be awakened by the consequences of their sin. God “hides” in order to deconstruct a distorted set of beliefs and practices, thereby opening Israel to receive again (as gift and event) their calling to be God’s people. Hiding is a form of divine judgment that ultimately serves divine mercy, a “No” that clears the ground for a more profound “Yes.” But this divine inaction is more than judgment. It