Exodus 24:1 Then the Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. 2 Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”
3 Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
4 Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.
7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”
8 Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people, declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”
9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. 10 There they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. 11 And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!
So far, everything looks good. Even though the Israelites have previously rebelled over food and water, right now they are vowing, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.” Moses sacrifices bulls as a peace offering to the Lord, splattering the blood over the people to confirm the covenant the Lord has made. And now Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Aaron’s two sons, plus seventy Israelite elders climb up the mountain. These men not only see God without being destroyed but also enjoy a covenant meal in his presence. Moses is thrilled; for once, the Israelites appear to be behaving themselves. And now Moses and the others are enjoying the deep abiding peace that can only come in God’s presence.
What is the significance of the covenant meal? An AI search reveals the following: The covenant meal in Exodus 24 holds profound significance as it symbolizes the establishment of a sacred relationship between God and the Israelites.
Covenant Establishment
- The meal represents the formal ratification of the covenant between God and His people, marking a commitment to follow His laws.
- In Exodus 24:11, the elders of Israel eat and drink in God’s presence, signifying restored fellowship and divine acceptance.
Spiritual Symbolism
- This meal is not merely a physical act but a spiritual communion, reflecting a higher walk with God.
- It emphasizes the importance of devotion over obligation, as the Israelites share this meal out of love and reverence.
Connection to New Testament
- The covenant meal foreshadows the Last Supper, where Jesus refers to His blood as the new covenant, linking the Old Testament practice to the New Testament understanding of salvation.
- This continuity highlights the significance of sacrificial offerings in both covenants, reinforcing the theme of redemption.
Where do the food and drink come from for this meal? Obviously, God supplies everything, including the setting in which Moses and the others enjoy the meal. These men either sit or recline in God’s presence, being comfortable while they eat and drink. Why should an all-powerful, all-knowing God stoop to accommodate these men? God, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, already knows that many of these men will soon rebel against Him. God knows that Aaron is so weak that when pushed, he will help create a golden calf and give credit to the Egyptian deity that calf represents for delivering the Israelites rather than glorifying God. God knows that Nadab and Abihu will later commit such gross heresy that He will have to command the ground to swallow them, their families, and all their possessions. And yet, God entertains these men, giving them a fine meal along with His peace and blessing.
This story depicts many miracles. The Israelite elders see God and do not die; in fact, they eat and drink in His immediate presence. The group make it up and down the mountain unscathed. Most of important of all, the group enjoy the Presence and the Peace of God. You might imagine that having experienced such a once in a lifetime event, these men would remain faithful to God forever; however, some of them fail miserably. Some members of the group are likely changed forever, carrying God’s peace in their hearts for the rest of their lives, while others trudge back down the mountain, enjoying a feeling of superiority without any need to worship or adore the God who has allowed them to glimpse Him.
And now, what about us? True, God has never fed us with celestial food and drink, but we are alive and breathing. Psalm 150:6 adjures us, “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!” Psalm 104:33 says, “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”
Want peace? When God gives you a mountaintop experience, don’t blow it! WORSHIP HIM!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we praise You for all the special times You have given us. Help us to worship You in spirit and in truth. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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