Day 39

Just a few thoughts this morning, and mainly from chapter 24. Here Israel agrees to the covenant of the Lord. They would have been familiar with these types of arrangements where a greater power would set down rules to which the lesser to agree and abide.

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.” (24:4-8 ESV)

The people agree to the covenant. They agree to the stipulations that Moses lays out and they are sealed with the sprinkling of blood. This helps us to see that their rebellion (coming soon, and ongoing in many ways) is actually the breaking of an oath. It is the virtual ripping up of the covenant.

One quick thought on seeing the Lord. Moses, Aaron, his sons, and seventy elders saw the God of Israel (24:10). We know this isn’t a complete seeing, but is nonetheless a gracious disclosure to these men. This also makes the rebellion of Aaron and the people all the more egregious as he was given this grace to see the Lord in this way to strengthen his faith and allegiance.