Exodus 24 is the official establishment of the the Covenant between YHWH and Israel. YHWH has given them the laws and 10 Commandments, which they have now verbally agreed to follow.
The two parties are binding themselves together. Israel has made a solemn vow in verse 3 of this chapter, "All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do."
They will be His people, special portion, holy nation.
6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
Blood was given. Leviticus 17:11 says, "For the life of a creature is in the blood... it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." This blood is the price paid, it is the sacrifice made so that the Covenant could take place.
Half of the blood was thrown upon the altar. Half of it thrown onto the altar of YHWH.
Blood is one of two binding mechanisms, so to speak.
7 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.”
Now, the people of Israel hear again the Word of God. It is read in their midst, and once again, they make their solemn vow. They will be faithful to this Covenant. They will listen to all the instruction YHWH has given them, and in doing so, they will prove to be His people.
So, first blood upon the altar, then words spoken over and by the people.
8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”
Now blood is sprinkled onto the people. They are covered in the blood of the Covenant.
It is this blood that YHWH will remember and remain faithful to, even when Israel sins against Him. It represents a holy union between God and His people. He will be their God; they will be His people.
And God will remember this Covenant, even when His people are unfaithful, even when His people are sent into exile. It is His faithfulness that makes the difference.
9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.
What does it mean "they saw God"? How much of God did they see? I really don't know. We don't get a description beyond His feet and what lay under it. Perhaps that suggests the extent of what all they could take in.
Exodus 33 suggests that they could not have possibly seen God's face.
What I do know is that the description given sounds a lot like what Ezekiel sees in his vision. Read Ezekiel 1:1-26. The "firmament" and throne from Ezekiel are just like the "pavement of sapphire stone" described here in Exodus.
It's amazing to think about the hundreds and hundreds of years that exist between these two events taking place, and yet God does not change in all that time.
11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.
The Covenant is complete. God is with Israel.
The chief men can approach Him without fear of being destroyed. They share in a feast. It is like a wedding banquet, celebrating the union of a husband and bride.
Read Matthew 26:26-29:
Blood was shed. It was thrown onto the altar. A sacrifice was made, so that we could have peace and unity with God.
You have had the Word of God spoken over you. You have heard the words of the New Covenant. Jesus was totally obedient. In doing so, He has fulfilled the Old Covenant. He has taken on the burden that we could never carry. Now, we are obedient to the New Covenant by believing in Jesus, the one sent from God -- that is the new work of God. (John 6:29)
You have been covered in the blood of the New Covenant. It has been sprinkled over you. You have forgiveness and life in this blood and by the power of God's Word.
Think about the parallelism of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Think about the fact that these 12 men of Israel -- the twelve disciples -- are sitting at a table with Jesus, who is the very image of God. They are sharing a meal with Him. Just like their forefathers did.
It is the same God who keeps showing up. He is always faithful. He always has been and He always will be.
We will partake in an even greater feast with God. We will not just see God, but we will see God in the fulness of His glory. We will be presented to Him and He will have mercy on us. He will remember the Covenant, and the blood that was shed. He will return to us, just as He promised.
In the meantime, we need to invite other people to the feast.
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