Exodus 24: Covenant Meal

Key Verse
11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.
 
Meditation
Biblical covenants are sovereignly established, sealed in blood, and celebrated with a meal. Before the fall, Adam and Eve enjoyed fellowship with God in His presence. Covenant is God's gracious initiative to restore His relationship with a sinful and rebellious people, binding Himself in faithfulness and inviting faith and obedience.
 
God had already bound Himself to Israel through His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15, 17) and had redeemed them from slavery through the Passover (Exodus 12). In today’s reading, former slaves whose faces had been pressed into the dust of Egypt behold the glory of God. Covenant relationship moves God’s people from slavery to celebration.
 
Moses served as Israel’s representative, ascending the mountain to meet with God and bringing God’s word to the people (vv. 1-2, 12-18). In faith, Israel pledged obedience to the covenant (vv. 3-4, 7). Moses then offered sacrifices and sprinkled blood on the people, declaring, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you” (v. 8). The covenant ceremony culminated in a meal where God's people enjoyed fellowship in His presence (vv. 9-11).
 
This covenant renewal points forward to Jesus Christ. Sent by the Father in love, Jesus came as the true mediator between God and humanity. Where Israel failed, Jesus was perfectly faithful. Then He offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, bearing the curse we deserved (Galatians 3:10-14). His blood established the new covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15-28), and the Lord’s Supper now serves as the covenant meal where believers feast on His grace.
 
Through Christ, redeemed slaves become beloved children welcomed to God's table.
 
Today’s Reading
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.”

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.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the specifics of covenant relationship represented in the reading?
 
-The blood of the covenant covers God’s people so we can enter into God’s presence. The sacrifice of Jesus for our sins is complete. How can gratitude and generosity grow from this grace in your heart?
 
-What does it look like for you to feast with the Lord? Do you need to move something from your schedule, add something (like a time of solitude) into your schedule, or miss a meal to be with Jesus in fellowship?
 
Key Verse
11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.