The Story Through the Bible Exodus 24

The skip through…

We last left off in Exod 20 but now we’re skipping to chapter 24. All the chapters between have expounded on the law and given more detail but it’s not narrative, it’s not a story moment which is what we’re following. Chapter 23 ends with a promise about the conquest of canaan and warnings not to follow their gods.

Exodus 24:1–2 ESV

Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

This is like before come up but do no go near. Worship the Lord and be careful.

In other weeks I talked about this like a marriage between God and Israel. We came up to the mountain aka the doors of the wedding chapel in ch 19 we said our vows in ch 20… but here in ch 24 it’s like we’re signing that marriage certificate and getting that final piece completed in this marriage ceremony. That signature happens next-

Exodus 24:3–8 ESV

Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 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.” 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.”

Why blood?

That’s where life is…

Genesis 9:4 ESV

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Just after the flood of Noah God gives permission to eat meat for the first time. He gives this prohibition though. The blood is where life is. If you empty blood from anything life leaves with it.

Leviticus 17:11 ESV

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

When blood is offered life is offered.

Atonement is generally known as making a wrong right. Like paying to fix a something you broke.

In church contexts though atonement is the act of God in Christ, whereby he satisfies His own holy justice by becoming a substitute for sinners, bearing their penalty and imputing or putting on them His righteousness.

Exodus 24:9–11 ESV

Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 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. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

WHOAH what changed here? we started out saying they wouldn’t go before God but now they’ve gone to this amazing place with something that resembled sapphire clear with a hint of blue it would certainly remind you of the sky. They SAW the God of Israel!?!? They didn’t die though… that’s what we’re re-assured of by the “he did not lay his hand on the chief men” part. Not only do they not die they eat and drink with the lord. Again how is this possible?

The blood was thrown on the altar to satisfy God’s wrath, the blood was thrown on the people to cleanse them of sin. Two things happen in justification. This is a catechism question I ask my kids. What is justification? It is God regarding sinners as if they had never sinned and granting them righteousness. It’s a two part thing. God’s wrath is appeased and he doesn’t treat us like sinners, but he also grants us his righteousness. Another catechism question, what is righteousness? It is the goodness of God. He has given us his own goodness, the essensce of good.

We’re ending our portion in exodus here in verse 11 with a meal. Meals are important both in the ancient world and ours. They can be particularly important throughout the Bible. Lots of important events are punctuated by a meal. This moves us to another meal that was a huge important moment in redemption history. What meal do you think that might be?

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Yes this very clearly pictures the passover where Jesus is saying essentially he is the true passover lamb, but it’s also taking us back to this moment. Anyone catch some words that connect to both?

“blood of the covenant”

Back in Exod 24.8

Exodus 24:8 ESV

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.”

and here Matt 26.28

Matthew 26:28 ESV

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

In Exodus it was thrown on the people in Matthew it’s drunk by the apostles. For the Mosaic covenant it was external and put on them, for the new covenant it is consumed and part of us.

I welcome your questions. - sorry listening to too many SCOTUS livestreams lately.