Why can’t we see God?

We need to remember that God is pure, holy, and righteous and that nothing sinful or evil can stand in His presence (1 Samuel 2:2; Exodus 33:20).  When Jesus came to the earth He had to veil or hide His glory from the world so He could be around mankind (Philippians 2:5-7).  Jesus did show some of His glory to a select few (Matthew 17:1-3).  God has appeared to people throughout the Old Testament, but He has always hid the full extent of His glory from them so they would not die (Isaiah 6:1-5; Ezekiel 1:28).  The only way we can see God is by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior and through this we get the righteousness of Christ put on us, so when we stand before God He will only see Jesus’ holiness and not our sinfulness (2 Corinthians 5:21).