Exodus

Exodus 24: God makes a covenant in blood

Begin in prayer

Before covenant blood is sprinkled on Israel, let us thank God for making a way of fellowship with Him. Ask Him to show us why His word and the sacrifice of Christ must govern our approach.

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalm 85:9

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to hear Your covenant word with reverence. Show us Jesus and the blood through which He brings His people near. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Moses tells Israel God’s words, writes them down and builds an altar with twelve pillars for the tribes. Young men offer sacrifices, and Moses divides the blood between basins and the altar. He reads the covenant book, hears the people’s promise of obedience and sprinkles them with the covenant blood. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders go up, see the God of Israel, and eat and drink without being struck down. God then calls Moses to receive the written tablets, and he leaves Aaron and Hur to hear disputes. After six days under the cloud, Moses is called into it, remaining on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

As you read Exodus 24, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God makes His covenant through blood and brings His appointed servants near.

The commands Israel has heard are gathered into a written covenant before the people promise obedience again. The twelve pillars represent the tribes standing before the altar. Blood is divided between the altar and the people, joining the spoken covenant to sacrifice. Moses reads the book so their agreement answers known words, rather than an unexplained ceremony. The leaders then see God and eat without being struck down, because they approach by His appointment. The sapphire-like pavement beneath His feet displays heavenly clearness, while the chapter gives no picture of God’s form. Moses alone enters the cloud when called, leaving Aaron and Hur to handle disputes below. Hebrews connects this covenant blood with the greater cleansing accomplished by Christ (Hebrews 9 verses 18 to 26). The meal and the mountain together teach that fellowship with the holy God rests on His provision and His word.

How does Exodus 24 show us that God makes His covenant through blood and brings His appointed servants near?

God’s covenant is made with words the people hear.

Moses tells the ordinances and writes all the LORD’s words. He reads the book before Israel promises to obey. Their response must answer God’s revealed will, and no later ceremony can replace hearing His word.

The covenant blood marks the need for sacrifice.

Half the blood goes on the altar and half is kept for the people. Moses sprinkles them after reading the covenant. Jesus later identifies the cup with His covenant blood, bringing sinners near through His death (Matthew 26 verse 28).

God brings His appointed servants near without destroying them.

The elders see God and share a meal, and He does not lay His hand on them. Moses goes farther when called into the cloud. Their fellowship is God’s gracious provision, pointing toward the access Christ secures for His people.

Memorise

Look, this is the blood of the covenant, which Yahweh has made with you concerning all these words.

Exodus 24:8

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what am I trusting in to bring me near to God besides Jesus?

Moses says, “Look, this is the blood of the covenant.” The people promise obedience after the book is read, and the blood is sprinkled. Their leaders eat before God and are spared.

Jesus brings His people near through a better sacrifice. We have broken God’s commands, and our promises cannot repair our guilt. Christ carried the sin of His people and died for them at the cross. He rose, having secured the cleansing that animal blood anticipated. His work is finished, and it is enough to give guilty sinners fellowship with God.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. All who rely on His blood receive forgiveness and peace with God. Come through the sacrifice He accomplished, and listen to the Savior who brings His people into a fellowship their obedience could never purchase.

Parent's note

Tell your children that covenant fellowship came through God’s word and blood, and that Jesus died and rose to bring sinners near. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for covenant mercy and the appointed sacrifice that brings His people near, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

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

Matthew 26:28

Father, thank You for speaking Your word and providing a way for sinners to come near. Please forgive our broken promises. Lead us to repent and trust the blood of Jesus. Give us reverent ears and thankful hearts, and help us obey because of His grace. Amen.