Rudy, Danny, and I made a YouTube video about Exodus chapter 24. The video came out a bit late today, and this is the blog post that goes with it.
The chapter starts with God’s invitation to Moses, Aaron, and his two sons to come close to the Lord.
Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance.
Moses alone shall come near the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him” (Exodus 24.1-2).
Stop and think about God’s amazing grace and love. He invites people to be with him, be friends, and receive his guidance for our lives.
It makes sense that when we get such an invitation, that we’ll say, like the Israelites long ago, “Yes, Lord, we’ll do whatever you tell us.”
Moses went and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances, and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 24.3).
God Seals the Covenant
When you read the Bible, don’t read it like a novel or a Facebook page. Look at the details. You’ll find important points about God’s relationship with his people.
And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning, built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and set up twelve pillars, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.
He sent young men of the Israelites, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed oxen as offerings of well-being to the Lord.
Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he dashed against the altar (Exodus 24.4-6).
This story is about the covenant or agreement God made with Israel. The altar shows that God is there, and it’s where he meets his people to bless them.
The 12 pillars are not just for remembering, but they show where the twelve tribes are too.
The blood of the covenant has two parts. First, the blood on the altar (verse 6) shows God’s forgiveness and taking the offering.
The main goal of the sacrifice was to create a bond. This bond let people get closer to Jehovah through the sacrifice.
Blood on the People
Moses poured the blood on the altar, and then sprinkled it on the people.
Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”
Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people, and said, “Here is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Exodus 24.7-8).
The blood on the altar showed that the people’s life was given to God. It went through death and was filled with His grace.
Then, the blood was sprinkled on the people and their life became new because of God’s grace.
This phrase is very important in the New Testament when it comes back to the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus said, “For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
Notice how the writer of Hebrews adds this chapter from Exodus and Jesus’ words at the Lord’s Supper to his prayer of blessing for his readers.
Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
Make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, as he works among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Think About It
Think about God’s grace. He wants a close relationship with us.
He forms a personal relationship with us by giving his Son’s blood to forgive our sins.
Then, he gives us the power to follow his lead and live a good life through the Holy Spirit.
Let’s thank him and be devoted to him today.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I have recorded a YouTube video of this passage. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 