Thoughts on the Covenant

Oops--I forgot to blog last week.  We will continue on this week's reading, Exodus 24.  This is one of many reiterations of the covenant between God and His people.  While we have seen this theme quite often, this case is particularly important because it accompanies the giving of the Law.  God has saved the Israelites and promised blessings.  Now, in the law, He has given them their side of the agreement.

24:1 You may be wondering about the sudden appearance of Nadab and Abihu.  Who were they?  Actually, they were Aaron's sons.  They were mentioned quite briefly back in chapter 6, and we haven't heard about them since until now.  They will become significant members of the priesthood later in the story, however.

24:2 Different groups of people are allowed to approach to different distances from God.  Only the seventy elders are allowed to come near the top; only Moses can go to the very top.  This arrangement is similar to the Tabernacle and Temple, in which only the high priest could enter the most holy place, only priests could enter the room outside that, etc.  The Holy God can only be approached by those who have specially purified themselves and have been chosen by Him to come.

24:3-8 The covenant is ratified in a ceremony involving sacrifices and sprinkled blood.

24:9-11 In one of the most mysterious passages in Exodus, it is reported that the elders saw God.  And yet, they were not harmed by the sight

24:12-14 Only after the people agreed to the Lord's commands are the stone tablets written.  I find this interesting.  This makes it appear that the covenant is not simply a one-way command from God to His people.  Instead, it is a mutual agreement between God and Israel.  Both parties must agree to it; it is a two-way relationship.  We tend to think of an intimate relationship between God and humanity as beginning with Jesus, but this was also true in Old Testament times.

24:15-18 The scene of smoke and fire recalls the beginning of the Sinai passage.  This suggests that Exodus 19-24 form a complete unit.


.