The Need for a Mediator

Introduction

Use the game we played to emphasize our need for a mediator to have a relationship with God.

FCF: Why can we not come to God on our own? Why do we need a mediator?

Key Point: God has graciously provided a mediator in order for us to have a relationship with him.

Context of Exodus 19

God had shown his power and glory in performing ten plagues to free his people from Egypt.

God redeemed his people in response to their cries for salvation in Exodus 2:24.

He also acted to fulfill the promise he made to Abraham and keep his covenant to give Abraham’s descendents a land and to continue the line of his offspring (Genesis 15:13-16).

Chapters 19-24 form what is known as “the book of the covenant.”

“The shape and structure of Exodus 19–24, then, is clearly marked in the text. Chapters 20–23 constitute “the Book of the Covenant” consisting of “the Words” (chapter 20) and “the Judgments” (chapters 21–23). Chapters 19 and 24 frame the Book of the Covenant as bookends, with chapter 19 providing the background and setting and chapter 24 describing the ceremony of covenant ratification.” -Stephen Wellum and Peter Gentry

This covenant was given to enable Israel to enjoy the blessings God wanted to give them in order that they would be a blessing to the surrounding nations.

This covenant showed them the best way to live and how to have a right relationship with God and his people within the community. It was also given to teach them how to care and steward God’s creation.

God is Gracious to Redeem (v. 1-6)

In verses 1-6, we learn four things about God. . .

He is faithful to keep his covenant.

He is gracious to redeem.

He is mighty to save.

He is loving by initiating a relationship with us.

God is Faithful to Keep His Covenant (v. 1-3)

First, we see that God is faithful to keep his covenant. Look at verses 1-3 with me. . .

Exodus 19:1–3 (ESV)

Exodus 19:1–3 ESV

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:

Moses begins by saying that the people of Israel reached Sinai on “the third new moon” which meant that it had been seven weeks since God redeemed his people from Egypt.

These verses demonstrate God’s faithfulness because in Exodus 3:12, God had told Moses that he would rescue the people and bring them back to “this mountain,” which was the mountain that God revealed himself to Moses. . . Mt. Sinai.

God had fulfilled his promise to deliver the people from Egypt just as he told Abraham (Genesis 15:13-16).

If God is faithful, this means that God can be trusted, he is not like us who lie and do not do what we say we will do:

Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

This means. . .

We can trust his word.

We can trust his promises.

And We can trust his plans and purposes for our lives. . . even when they do not make sense.

Why. . . because GOD IS FAITHFUL.

God is Gracious to Redeem and Mighty to Save (v. 4)

Second, we see in verse 4 that God is gracious to redeem and mighty to save.

Exodus 19:4 ESV

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Verse 4 describes the past relationship and history of the partners between the covenant. God also announces who he is in verse 4. . . the omnipotent God who delivered Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand and outstretched arm!

Just as an eagle carried their young on their wings when they were too weak to fly or fluttering from failing to fly. . . the Lord carried Israel and redeemed them when they were too weak and unable to save themselves from the Egyptians.

Think of the eagle from Lord of the Rings for an image for the students to remember and connect with.

Not only did God save Israel from Egypt, but he “brought them to himself.”

This signifies that he redeemed Israel in order to have a relationship with them.

**This demonstrates the love and compassion God has for his people.**

It also shows that their salvation was completely based on God’s power and grace. They did nothing to save themselves.

The exodus was not just about getting Israel out of Egypt; it was about getting Israel close to God.

It is vital to see that before God gives his commands to Israel to obey, his commands and covenant are founded upon his grace.

Notice “therefore” in verse 5, which means the commands to obey were founded upon the grace God had already showed to Israel in making them his people.

This shows that the Mosaic covenant was not legalistic, in that the people had to obey the law to be God’s people. Instead, BECAUSE God made the Israelites his people by his grace, they should respond with obedience and faith in God to his gracious and saving work.

Therefore, the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant is not that one was based on the law and the other was based on grace, but rather that the Israelites had to perfectly keep the law to keep the covenant. . . but the new covenant is kept through faith in Jesus Christ who perfectly kept the covenant for us and paid for our sin through his blood.

God is loving by Initiating the Relationship (v. 5-6)

Third, based on the redeeming grace God has shown Israel, he lovingly initiates a relationship with them through making a covenant.

If the people of Israel responded to God’s grace in faith and demonstrated their faith through obedience to God’s commands, Israel would experience what it meant to be God’s treasured possession.

Look at verses 5-6. . .

Exodus 19:5–6 ESV

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

God had already chosen them and made them his treasured possession, but they would enjoy the benefits of this blessing if they obeyed his commands as a response through faith.

“Treasured Possession” communicates the kings personal treasure (1 Chronicles 29:3; Ecclesiastes 2:8).

Out of all the peoples of the earth, out of all the things in the world, God chose Israel to be his treasured possession, his personal property, his most valuable asset.

Notice, “all the earth is mine.”

God is omnipotent and sovereign. . . all the world is his!

Deuteronomy 10:14 ESV

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

Also see: Job 41:11; Ps. 24:1

The whole world is like a ring on God’s hand, and his chosen people are the jewel in that ring.

But why did God choose Israel?

It was not due to anything that Israel had done, for ever since the Exodus from Egypt Israel grumbled and complained to God.

Deuteronomy 9:6 ESV

“Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.

God did not choose Israel based on what they had done for him, but rather God chose Israel because he freely wanted to place his love on them and fulfill the covenant he made with their forefather Abraham.

Deuteronomy 7:6–8 ESV

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God also says Israel will be a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation.”

Kingdom of priests signifies that the people will have two roles:

First, they will be priests to the Lord and serve and worship him.

Second, they will be priests to the world to mediate the blessings of God to the surrounding nations.

The makes clear that God’s plan for Israel was part of his plan for the world. Israel was chosen not only from the nations, but also for the nations.

Holy nation means that Israel was to be a set apart people that were wholly devoted to the Lord. They were not to be like the other nations.

This shows the reason for all the commands to make Israel different from the pagan nations that surrounded them.

So, we see from these verses that God is faithful, gracious, all-powerful, and loving. . . but how can we commune with this awesome God, how can we come into his presence? Verses 7-25 remind us that it must be through a mediator. . .

God Reveals the Need for a Mediator and Graciously Provides a Mediator (v. 7-25)

After initiating the covenant with Israel, God demonstrates why the people must have a mediator to commune and have a relationship with him.

Israel needs a mediator because God is holy and they are sinful.

Israel could not just approach God in any way that she wanted to. . . but God gave specific stipulations on what they must do in order to come into his presence.

Exodus 19:10–15 ESV

the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

They must consecrate themselves and devote themselves to the Lord.

They must wash their garments and cleanse themselves of any defilements.

There were limits to how close the people could get to God.

If they broke those limits, they would be killed and the “Lord would break out against them.”

Exodus 19:21 “And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.”

The reason for these stipulations is that God is holy, awesome, and majestic.

God comes down on the mountain in thunder and lightning and a thick cloud. (v. 16)

When he speaks his voice thunders. (v. 19)

The Lord descended upon the mountain in fire. . . when he did, the whole mountain trembled greatly. (v. 18)

If the people did not follow the Lord’s instructions, his holiness would break out against them and they would perish. (v. 21)

If the priests did not consecrate themselves, the Lord would “break out against them.” (v. 22)

How do you see God? Do you view him as holy, awesome, and majestic like these passages describe?

Yet, in verses 20-25, God in his grace, provided a mediator in Moses to speak to God on behalf of the people and speak God’s words back to the people.

This passage teaches us that approaching God is a serious matter. . . we cannot come to God on our terms or in any way we please. . . but we must adhere to his stipulations.

God has made clear that the only way we can come into his presence is through faith in Jesus. . . and the only proper way to worship him is in spirit and in truth.

But here is a wonderful truth that we cannot miss. . . the Israelites could not come into God’s presence on the mountain top. . . fear and trembling gripped them. . . this continued in the worship of God in the temple. . . as a veil separated God from the people.

But now in the new covenant, Christ has removed the veil, and through faith in Christ, we can enter into God’s presence fully unhindered!

Look at the contrast the author of Hebrews makes between the Israelites situation and our current situation under the new covenant:

Hebrews 12:18–24 ESV

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

We no longer approach God by coming to Mount Sinai by Moses in trembling fear. . . but come to Mount Zion by Jesus in joyous delight!

Response

Our text tonight tells us that we need an intermediary, we cannot come to God on our own terms, we cannot save ourselves. . . but we need a savior.

The only way Israel could have a relationship with God is if God in his grace chose them.

The only way Israel could be saved from Egypt is if God powerfully saved them.

The only way Israel could commune and speak with God is through a mediator.

**It is the same for us**

We need Christ to save us from sin.

The deliverance of Israel from Egypt points ahead to the ultimate redemption from our slavery to sin through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

We need Christ to be our mediator between us and God to bring us near to God in order to have a relationship with him.

Moses is a type of Christ who was a mediator to God for the people. But Moses was not perfect and also needed a mediator. . . but Jesus is the ultimate and perfect mediator between God and man.

1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,”

We need God to choose us for salvation and make us his treasured possession.

Israel becoming God’s treasured possession, kingdom of priests, and holy nation points ahead to the fulfillment of these things through the perfect Son, Jesus Christ, who was God’s chosen possession, perfect priest, and perfect representation of his holiness to all the nations.

If you are in Christ tonight, trust in Jesus, your mediator to help you live out your identity as God’s treasured possession.

First know that you are God’s treasured possession! (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Be a priest

Be wholly devoted to the Lord.

Be a stranger in the world so that the world will no longer be strangers to the gospel.

Be salt and light.

If you are not in Christ tonight, trust in Jesus, who is the only mediator who can bring you to God and give you a relationship with him.

Because of your sin, you are unable to come to God on your own terms.

You must trust in Christ who is the only way to the Father.