Exodus 24:1-18
Q.1. Whom did God invite to fellowship with Him on the mountain? How was Moses especially honoured? What did Moses do with all God’s instructions? What does this reveal about him? – (Exo.24:1-4)
This is an astounding historical event. God told Moses – Come up to the Lord, you, and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him (Exo.24:1). The people were to maintain their distance as before – … for no man can see Me and live! (Exo.33:20 c.f. Exo.19:12-13, 21-24). It is written that – the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend … (Exo.32:11). However, it is revealed that even Moses was not able to see God’s face and glory directly (c.f. Exo.33:17-23). Aaron and the seventy elders were privy to much less. Nevertheless, they were invited into God’s outer presence. Only Moses could come near to the Lord. This was denied to the High Priests and the elders of Israel (Exo.24:2).
Q.2. How did the people respond to the renewal of the Covenant? How was this event commemorated? What was meant by the sprinkling of the blood on the people? – (Exo.24:3-8)
After this encounter on Mount Sinai, Moses passed on all the ordinances of the Lord – and all the people answered with one voice and said – “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” (Exo.24:3). Moses and the people were involved in a number of special actions with the making of the covenant: (i) Being highly educated – Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord … (Exo.24:4). He was the principal writer of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The first Christian martyr, Stephen, stated – Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds (Acts 7:22). (ii) Moses constructed an elaborate altar – with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel (Exo.24:4). (iii) With the help of some young Israelites, they sacrificed burnt offerings, and bulls for peace offerings (Exo.24:5). (iv) Moses sprinkled half the blood on the altar, and read from the Book of the Covenant, after which the people promised – All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient (Exo.24:7). They did not doubt that these writings were spoken by God. (v) Finally, – Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words” (Exo.24:8). By allowing the blood to be sprinkled on them, the people were signifying their commitment to obey their God. It is doubtful that Israel really understood the seriousness of what they were promising, in response to the covenant.
What was God like? What did the people do? Why did they not die? Why did Moses go up the mountain? How glorious was the event? – (Exo.24:9-18)
The key leaders then went up the mountain – and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself (Exo.24:10). This would have been awesome, and – Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel … (Exo.24:11). God allowed Moses to experience the goodness, graciousness, and compassion of Himself, but he could not actually see God. (c.f. Exo.33:19). Nevertheless, it is recorded by Moses that – they saw God, and they ate and drank (Exo.24:11 c.f. Rev.3:20). It was an exhilarating event, as they ate and drank in God’s presence. The Lord called on Moses to go up the mountain where he would be given the Ten Commandments. These underpinned all God’s ordinances – written for their instruction (Exo.24:12). He took Joshua with him, but left the elders behind with Aaron and Hur, to deal with all the legal matters that arose amongst the vast multitude of people (Exo.24:13-14). The giving of the law was attended with – the glory of the Lord that rested on Mount Sinai (Exo.24:15). Moses and Joshua had to wait six days, before God summoned Moses from the midst of the cloud (Exo.24:16). He stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights (Exo.24:18). All the while – to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top (Exo.24:17). Nothing had ever happened like this before.