“A story from the Midrash tells that when God wanted to reveal His face to Moses at the burning bush, Moses was not ready and did not want it.
Then when Moses matured and asked for it, God did not want to reveal His face.
So it is for many people.
One is afraid to look and thus hides his face before God.
Then when he is able to see, it turns out that God has turned away.
Therefore, it is written that were the soul liberated from the body and from the senses, the capacity to realize God from the abstract knowledge we have of Him would perhaps be possible.
The very structure of our existence, however, thinking as we do through our physical brains and limited bodies, emphasizes the truth of the statement:
‘And no man shall see Me and live.’
The other side of reality is barred.”
From Pebbles of Wisdom from Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (forthcoming)