Exodus 24:1-11 Our relationship with God is not based on a feeling but based on faith

Exodus 24:1-11 Our relationship with God is not based on a feeling but based on faith

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 you shall worship at a distance. 2 Moses alone, however, shall come near to the Lord, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him.”

3 Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!” 4 Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he arose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on 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 So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Background

This chapter fulfills the sealing of the covenant that was first announced in Exodus 19:3,

Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the 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 sons of Israel.” – Exodus 19:3-6

After giving of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and the ordinances (Exodus 21:1-23:19), God proceeded to ratify the covenant with Israel. The Law comprises two parts: the 10 commandments and the ordinances. How do they differ from each other, is not explicitly stated. But while the 10 commandments are ethical, timeless and universal in nature, the ordinances are specific to Israel’s agricultural and social setting. That said, the ordinances are included as part of God’s Law with the 10 commandments as the basis. Here, the ratification of the covenant involved both the 10 commandments and the ordinances as one whole.

As the people gathered to ratify the covenant, they saw God seated above the platform of sapphire. This time it was different, for God was no longer terrifying. The people heaved a sigh of relief as they saw God seated amicably above a sea of sapphire. Today’s devotion teaches us: Our relationship with God is not based on a feeling but based on faith.

Observation

Then Moses came and recounted to the people all the words of the Lord and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has spoken we will do!”

After the laws in the ordinances were presented to Moses, he, in turn, transmitted them to the people. Having done that, Moses proceeded to ratify the covenant between God and Israel. By reading aloud the content of the law again, it underscores the seriousness of the covenant. The people need to know exactly what they were committing themselves to in the oath. The ratification of the covenant involved the blood of animals. The altar with twelve pillars which symbolised Israel was sprinkled with half of the blood. When the people responded in unison, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” Moses sprinkled the other half of the blood on them. Then, Moses sealed the covenant with the words, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Dividing the blood in half points to a twofold aspect of the covenant. Sprinkling the blood on the altar speaks of God’s forgiveness in reconciling with the people. Scattering the blood on the people binds them to an oath of obedience to God’s law. And the blood serves to reconcile and unite both God and the people as one.

Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

After the covenant was ratified, Moses, Aaron and his two eldest sons and the 70 elders ate a meal before God. Here, they saw an appearance of God, more accurately His feet on a platform of sapphire. The text describes in amazement how the elders could see God and still live. The sight of God seated above the sea of sapphire stands in stark contrast to the burning terror in Exodus 19. Here, God has neither become familiar nor less awe-inspiring, but rather, a whole new way of communion with God has been established.

Truth

Our relationship with God is not based on a feeling but based on faith. 

The people saw the burning on Sinai which evoked in them the emotion of terror. Later on, when they saw God seated above the sea of sapphire, they felt relief and reassured. Both occasions evoked two contrasting emotions. Yet the focal point in the entire Sinai experience is neither, but the covenant. From then on, they are to walk by faith according to the law and His lovingkindness. They are not to walk by sight, by running away when they feel terrified. Or to behave in an irreverent way when God appears familiar.

Many base their relationship with God on feelings: They are attracted or repelled depending on how they feel about God at that moment. Those who are drawn to the feeling of being unconditionally loved by God tend to focus on grace. Those compelled to come to God only because they fear being destroyed by Him, tend to focus on the law. In the context of human relationships, these are also those who abuse you when you are kind and fear you when you are severe. Such are not genuine because they do not conduct themselves according to the truth.

Therefore, believers must base our relationship with God on faith. Faith is not an emotion, it is a conviction that Jesus is Lord, and we are not. Faith is a conviction that God will preserve us under all circumstances. Faith is a sincere commitment to love and obey Him with all our hearts and to love others. It is based on this covenant of faith that our entire relationship with God stands.

People who base their relationship with God on feelings tend to sway according to how they feel in the moment. They do things only when they feel “led” to and when the moment seems “right”. They do not seek God’s will to make difficult choices. They pursue that which is easy and convenient.

Amid the thunder, lightning and earthquake, Moses stood out from the rest when he pressed into God’s presence by faith. Moses knows that as long as he walks by faith, he will be safe and secure to see God’s glory.

Application

In the course of your day and in making decisions, do you seek God’s directives? Or are you led by your ideas and ideals?

Do you read the bible only when you feel like it? Or do you read it because the word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (see Psalm 119:105)?

In your prayer life, are you often led by your love for God and others? Or are you driven by the desire to fulfil your needs and wants?

Dear Lord, I renew my commitment to love You with all my heart and to love others. Purify my heart and enable me to commune with You face to face. Empower me to walk in Your will and to see Your glory. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.


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