A Study of the Covenants: Mosaic

Intro: I have flown quite a bit in my time, one thing that always fascinates me is the size of the life on the land below. Flying at 30,000 feet makes the larges mountains look like manageable. Football stadiums that hold 100,000 look like miniature size that could sit on your sports memorabilia shelf. One thing that never looks small, is the ocean. When you fly over the ocean, its enormity cannot be reduced by perspective. It remains incalculable.

But as you descend from 30K feet in the air, perspective changes. Those twinkling little lights grow and come into focus to become a line of street lights. That dark splotch from the air now comes into focus to reveal a large forest of trees with no electricity to enlighten them. Those moving objects on the ground become cars and living beings.

This change of perspective in the descent of a plan is similar to the progression of the Word of God in the covenants. Not only does time allow more to be revealed about God but we see in greater detail all that he is doing with the covenants as the framework or backbone of his redemptive work.

Remember: SHOW TIMELINE AGAIN

Movement : God to man to creation

God to Adam to creation

God to Noah to creation

God to Abraham to the nations

God to Israel to the nations

God in Jesus to the nations

Exodus as a whole

Ch. 1-18 Deliverance

Ch. 19-24 Covenant

Ch. 25-40 Tabernacle

Look Deeper

Chapters 1-18

Fulfilled promise they are a great nation

Moses is called as a representative to God to lead people

God delivers Israel from bondage as He promised Abraham

Genesis 15:13–14 ESV

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

Chapters 19-24

Focus on the covenant with Israel ( not Moses). Moses becomes the mediator of that covenant but the covenant is made with Israel as a nation. Moses is included in Israel and a representative of it, but God covenants with His people.

Chapters 25-40

Focus on setting up a place where God would dwell in the midst of them as they make their way into the promised land. All aspects of the worship in the tabernacle was a shadow of the worship with God that His people will experience with him for eternity.

Exodus 19:1–6 ESV

1 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. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 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: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 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; 6 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.”

Relationship (v 3)

(3-4) THE LORD: God’s reminds of his faithfulness

(3) House of Jacob: The Lord establishes the covenant with Abraham and his Sons. This is referenced in

Abraham

Isaac (Gen 26:3-5)

Jacob (Gen 35)

Responsibilities

Promise from YHWH:

The Covenant at Sinai is a new covenant that God makes with Israel. It is a different covenant from the Covenant with Abraham. Let’s look at how the abrahamic covenant was fulfilled. God promised Abraham two main promises:

Make them a great nation (accomplished in Egypt)

Exodus 1:7 ESV

7 But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

give them a land (they will fully take possession of the land under Joshua)

We can consider this Sinai covenant a new covenant for Israel and not just an extension of the Abrahamic covenant. This is so because the end of this section in Exodus concludes with a ceremony where Moses leads the people to commit to the covenant and it is ratified with the sacrificing and blood of an animal, like it was done with Abraham. We will look at this later.

Look with me now back at the Responsibilities of the Old Covenant or Sinai covenant :

Exodus 19:4–6 ESV

4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 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; 6 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.”

His Treasured possession

A Kingdom of priests

A Holy Nation

His Treasured Possession(5)

This expression displays the intimate relationship that the Lord would have with Israel above all the other nations. The Hebrew language here speaks of a treasured possession like the vault of a king where He stores his great treasures. While His kingdom is far and wide and all belongs to him, his vault is where his greatest possessions are kept. The Lord tells Israel that of all the nations, He has set his love on them and He treasures them above all.

What an astounding thought that God treasures his people. Some believe God just tolerates his people but this verse speaks against that. The Lord has set his special, covenant love on Israel and that means he find great joy in loving us even when we are hard to love. The creator of the universe sets his love upon on his people, without condition, for his own purposes and glory. This is why Scripture speaks of Israel as God’s son! In Exodus 4, the Lord tells Moses to tell Pharoah,

Exodus 4:22–23 ESV

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”

Notice the language of the first-born son. The first born son was the son of the inheritance and the Lord calls Israel is his first born. The one who would inherit the land and kingdom. If the Egyptian king did not let the Lord’s son be free, then all first born Egyptians son would perish. This command of the Lord to Pharoah shows a Father’s love that will stop at nothing to save his son from bondage and captivity.

One of my favorite movies from the 80’s is “OVER THE TOP.” It was a successful Stallone movie where he took off the boxing gloves and instead competed in professional arm wrestling. But outside the competition of the movie, the movie’s plot is about a Father’s love for his son. Stallone is a truck driver who lost custody of his son to snooty Father in law trying to protect his grandson from a blue-collar truck driver who lives on the road. Stallone wants to connect with his Son and have the Father son relationship he deserves, but the grandfather, with all his money and resources will stop at nothing to keep them apart. Like YWHW and Israel, a Father’s love for his Son will stop at nothing to be together.

This is the beauty of the doctrine of election that we are chosen as his treasured possession before the foundation of the world. For those who might consider that unfair, then see how the Lord is equally setting his love on Israel out of all the nations of the earth. It is no more unfair to do this than it is to say that you have set a special love on your spouse above all others in this world. He or she is your treasure.

Let us differentiate being God’s treasured possession from being God’s trophy. In our culture, a treasured possession might sit on a shelf, untouched, but valuable and meaningful. That is not what is being communicate here. God’s people are his treasured possession in an intimate and functional relationship. We are called to commune with God in intimacy and fellowship. We also should stress that while God values us in his special love, this does not mean that God needs us. The idea of God’s aseity or self-existence is that God does not need us even though he choses to love us. We don’t add value or worth or power or purpose to God.

There is a popular worship song by Hillsong entitled, “What a Beautiful Name.” In one of the verses, it states that “You didn't want heaven without us So Jesus You brought heaven down, My sin was great Your love was greater, What could separate us now.” While that is sweet hallmark sentiment, it is not how the Bible portrays God’s love towards man. This verse actually reflects God as needy not all powerful. It reflects that God could not live without us which is biblically untrue, since He has existed eternally long before He ever created anything.

How is the church God’s treasured possession in the New Covenant?

But the treasured possession which is Israel falls short in a covenant relationship because Israel as a nation fails God. They break the covenant with God and they suffer the consequences of that sin. But God is faithful to accomplish all his purposes in Israel. The sonship motif continues throughout Scripture so that Jesus is sent into the world, the beloved Son of God whom the Father is well pleased(Mt 3:17). He is the beloved of God and all who believe in Him will be set free from their bondage, and grafted to the Son. Therefore, in the election of God’s people, we read by Paul

Ephesians 1:5–6 ESV

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

We are beloved of God because we belong to Him by faith in His son. We have faith in his son because he chose His people before the foundation of the world as his treasured possession, and the Father sent his only Son, his treasured possession to suffer and die so we could be grafted into the Son and share the inheritance promised to the Son.

A Kingdom of Priests (6)

He also promises Israel a kingdom of priests. The idea of Israel being priests reflects on priests being those who can approach and interact with God. This was already communicated in the ceremony of circumcision which we looked at last week. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant because it was signified that the people were set apart as priests. Like the Egyptians who circumcised their priests, the Israelites would have all their boys circumcised on the 8th day of their life on earth signifying their covenant with God as a kingdom of priests. The way in which the nation of Israel would be a blessing to the nations is by being the mediatorial role, like Adam, Noah, and Abraham, as the ones who know God and can enter into his presence. Just as Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God in his holy presence, so Israel would also serve as a Mediator to the nations, so that if the earth wanted to encounter the one True God, they would come to Israel to do so.

We read for our call to worship, Ps 67

Psalm 67 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

How will the nations know and see God and therefore praise him? They will see Israel as a kingdom of priests as a holy nation and in seeing them distinctly in worship and living holy lives, they will be directed to see God.

Also, as a kingdom, they represent the sovereignty of God among all peoples on the earth. This statement of a kingdom is the beginning of the undertones of monarchy that will come when God appoints an earthly king over all that belongs to him. But ultimately the nations are to see that the Lord reigns over all. He tells the nation of Israel that all the earth is mine which reflects his possession and rule over all things. Israel would then belong to his kingdom and in that kingdom serve under the headship of the Lord as priests to the nations. This connects to the Abrahamic promise whereby the people of the earth will be blessed as the nations see the One True God through the life of Israel and therefore can come to Him through their representation.

Now consider how in the New Covenant which we will get to in a few weeks, that through Jesus Christ, a kingdom of priests have been gathered together, not of national Jews, but of True Israelites who come to faith in Jesus Christ alone. In other words, under the New Covenant, the church consists of all nations who trust in Jesus as God’s Son and he is making up a kingdom of priests of all ethnicities across the globe who believe in him,

Revelation 5:8–10 ESV

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

A Holy Nation (6)

Lastly, they are a holy nation which means that they are set apart and devoted to the Lord. They are to live as people distinct from the other nations in they way they serve God and the way. In Exodus 19-24 and throughout the remaining books of the Pentateuch, concluding in Deuteronomy, the law is given to Israel by God. That law, given by God to give to the people, is a way in which they can strive to live holy. Many divide the law into categories like moral, civic and ceremonial laws to better understand them but ultimately, we understand all the law given to Israel was to serve to make them holy. These laws demonstrated a separation from the peoples of the land which displayed their setting apart and devotion to the Lord against all foreign Gods. This is why the ten commandments begin with the first four about the relationship that Israel has with God. Their priority must first be to love God will all their heart, soul and strength as it says in Deuteronomy. They cannot be distracted or fall prey to worshipping false gods and idols nor combining their worship with pagan worship. Their devotion to God alone was necessary.

Also, they were a holy nation in the way that they loved others around them. A love for God manifested a love for others. This required justice to be sought for the oppressed, care for the neglected, sacrifice for those in need. Therefore the second to the greatest command that the Lord commands to Israel is the way in which they love and care for people. The last four of the ten commandments instruct the people how to care for other’s possessions, their lives, and their dignity. This is why Jesus instruct the people: Love your neighbor as yourself. This type of behavior flows out of the love of God and represents him as good and kind among the pagan peoples.

Commitment by the people

Exodus 19:7–8 ESV

7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

Now turn to Ex 24,

Exodus 24:1–8 ESV

1 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. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” 3 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.” 4 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. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 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.” 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.”

With the responsibilities and promises of God, there is also the tension of Israel to be obedient to the covenant. In v 7-8, we can see Israel commitment to the covenant. The speak with words their commitment with God just as we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord! The verbal confession is an act of commitment and accountability.

It reminds me of the famous picture of the packed area of German men saluting Hitler, with their arms raised in support for his tyranny. But if you look closely, there is one soldier who refuses to salute among the hundreds and no doubt those around him noticed his commitment.

God give his people grace but he also calls us to obedience. Its not an obedience that grace but an obedience because of grace and love extended by God. Israel shows a pattern all too familiar of obedience and disobedience to the laws of God. They will not and cannot be a perfect Son which means something better must come. We know that something better is Jesus.

Notice that after the book of the covenant (writings from the Lord given to Moses in Ex 19-24 up on the mountain), Moses wrote down the words and read the words to the people, as they commited to them before the presence of the Lord. They sacrificed animals for worship and with that blood, they sprinkled on the altar which represented the presence of the Lord and the threw it on the people so that both parties were affixed to this covenant. Just as Abraham entered into the covenant with the shedding of blood, so the shedding of blood was present with Israel at Sinai as well.

While Abraham’s covenant was fulfilled there is also a sense in which its promises are ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The name of Abraham’s offspring would be great because of WHO would come from that lineage who would bring reconciliation between God and man. The Lord Christ Jesus would “ have the name which is above every other name” and therefore they are a great nation because the Lord Jesus came from Israel and is the True Israel. Also, the land promised to God’s people was a physical land that they possessed but again it is the Lord Jesus who provides the true Eden for his people, not physical land in the Middle East, but eternal rest in a new heavens and earth where Christ rules for eternity without sin. This is the true promised land of God’s people. He is the true Son and who offers complete righteousness through his fulfillment of the law in every point.

Reminder

Exodus 19:16–20 ESV

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Exodus 24:9–18 ESV

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. 11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

The sign of the Covenant with Israel is the presence of God that dwells with them. God would come to them and dwell with them on the mountain. God would come and dwell with them in the tabernacle as it is built. Eventually the Lord’s presence would come to dwell in the temple. This was the sign that God would carry forth his plan and he would do so through HIs people. He would be a blessing to the nations and He would be the God who did not just reign from afar but who would come to him.

The obstacle in this sign is that Israel could not approach God because of his holiness and power. They were His people and he was in their midst, and yet only the High priest could approach the presence of God. This is a cause for celebration and yet pause. No one can approach a holy God…until Jesus came. He put on flesh and walked among the people. He provides a way of sacrifice so that the temple curtain that served as a visual reminder of the separation was removed. The final sacrifice was made and reconciliation between God and man is attained in Jesus.

Now the sign of the new covenant, repsented in the Baptism and the Lord’s Supper is that god’s presence dwells in us. We are united by his death and resurrection and we remember in the Lord’s supper all that He did for our sake.