Exodus Chapter 24 The Covenant made between the LORD and Israel

Exodus 24:1-18 – The Covenant made between the LORD and Israel

A. The LORD called Moses and the leaders to seal the Covenant (24:1-11)

1. Moses to go up alone to receive the Tablets of stone

This is the 6^th time Moses went up the mountain (Exodus 24—31). This time, Aaron, his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up halfway with him.

2. The Covenant made between the LORD and the Israelites: You shall be

• My treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and
• To Me a kingdom of priests
• To Me a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5–6).

Moses wrote the Book of the Covenant (Exod 24:4, 7)

The Israelites responded three times:

“All that the LORD has spoken we will do.”  (Exod 19:8)

“All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.” (Exod 24:3)

“All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will obey” (Exod 24:7)

3. The Covenant was ratified at the foot of the mountain with these objects/symbols:

• Altar – young men offered burnt offerings and peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.
• Pillars – representing the twelve tribes of Israel
• Blood – sprinkled on the altar and on the people to seal the Covenant and for cleansing of sins (Lev 16:11-19)

Significance: The precious Blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) was figuratively sprinkled on our hearts when we believe in God who sent Jesus as the propitiation for our sins. We are sealed by the Blood of Jesus in the New Covenant (1 Pet 1:2, 19)

4. Aaron, his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up half way the mountain

• They saw the glory of the God of Israel
• Under His feet were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness (cf Ezek 1:26; Rev 14:6; 15:2)

B. Moses with the LORD for 40 days and nights (24:12-18)

Moses went up alone to receive the Tablets of stone

The glory of the LORD was like: (a) a cloud that covered the mountain, (b) a devouring fire on top of the mountain

He spent 40 days and nights with the LORD

Significance:

1. Moses spent another 40 days and nights to receive a second set of the Tablets. His face shone with God’s glory (Exod 34:29,30,35). While He was on earth, Jesus spent time with God (Mk 1:35; Mk 14:26). The Apostles Peter, James and John saw Jesus, transfigured/transformed (metamorphoo), with Moses and Elijah. God says from the cloud of glory, “Listen to Him” (Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35). Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, …but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son (Heb 3:5-6). Likewise we will be transformed by the Majestic God on high in the heavens (Heb 1:3, 8:1). Turn away from the world and seek the face of the Lord Jesus, spent time listening to God’s written word and walk in step with the Spirit (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 3:18; 1 Jn 3:2).
2. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, spent forty days and nights in the wilderness. At the end of that period, He was tempted by the devil and was victorious (Mt 4:1-2; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-2).
3. The holy mountain at Mt Sinai points to Mount Zion, our eternal home – (Heb 12:20-24; 2 Pet 1:18; Rev 21:10)

He (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Heb 1:3)

Listen to Jesus!

Reflections

1. Moses was the meekest man who lost his temper after 40 years of shepherding the Israelites (Num 12:3). How often did the Israelites test God by grumbling and complaining about Moses, God’s servant? (Num 14:22)
2. How would respond when you have imperfect rulers and leaders who are placed over you?
3. How can you respond to two offers
   1. The Father in heaven who says, “Listen to Jesus!” (Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35). The risen Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Mat 28:18). Jesus says, “Follow Me!” and “Come to Me!”
   2. The ruler of this world who says, “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” (Mt 4:8-9; Lk 4:6)

Further reading

Moses went up and down Mount Sinai How many times did Moses go up Mount Sinai? (compellingtruth.org)

Transfiguration of Jesus https://www.britannica.com/topic/Transfiguration-Christianity#:~:text=(Mark%209%3A2%E2%80%9313%3B%20Matthew%2017%3A1%E2%80%9313%3B%20Luke%209%3A28%E2%80%9336)

40 days and nights https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/40-days-and-40-nights-in-the-bible-importance-today.html#:~:text=It%20is%20evident%20that%20the%20time%20span%20of,spent%20in%20the%20wilderness%20when%20tempted%20by%20Satan.

YHWH wrote the 10 Commandments, Moses wrote the rest of the words of the Covenant

https://apologeticspress.org/who-wrote-on-the-second-pair-of-tablets-754/

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/who-wrote-the-second-set-of-tablets/

 ———————————–Intermission———————————–

This ends the brief study of Exodus 1-24.

The overall scheme of God is mapped out in Exodus 6:6-8 which begins with “I am the LORD” and ends with “I am the LORD”

1. Three phases of the LORD’s plan for the Israelites in Exodus.

Phase 1 – Redemption (Exod 1-18) I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.

Phase 2 – Relationship (Exod 19-24): I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians (v 7)

Phase 3 – Possession (Exod 25-40):  I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession.