Glimpses 06

Mosaic Covenant

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G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 6 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Lets read together Exodus 19v1-13: Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel." So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you." Moses told the Lord what the people had said. Then the Lord told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.' However, when the ram's horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.

Israel as a nation

The people of the nation of Israel were living as those promised by God in the covenant to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation" (Genesis 12v1). They have been on a long journey and has we have read, left Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

Mosaic Covenant Details!

This is the fifth covenant between God and humanity and also the second theocratic. The verses we read were only an introduction and the covenant goes on to the end of Exodus 24!  The 10 Commandments are a very good summary and the book of Deuteronomy gives the greatest detail of it! This covenant commences with the stipulation in Exodus 19v5 "Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me." . This covenant was to the nation of Israel in order that those who believed God's promise to Abraham could know how to live rightly before God!  For Abraham was declared righteous by God, solely on the basis of his faith in God alone!

Covenant Areas

This Mosaic covenant covered  three areas of life:

• The commandments were given so they would know how to correctly relate socially to God (Exodus 20v1-6)
• The judgments were given in order that they could relate socially to each other properly (Exodus 21v1 - 24v11)
• The decrees dictate their religious life so that God could be approached by humanity on His terms (Exodus 24v12 - 31v18).

Of course included in here were the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) which breaks down into two categories. Firstly identifying the God of Israel as their God, what He has done for them in bringing them out of Egypt and that they were to worship Him alone! These are the Israelites duty to their God!  Then, secondly, how they were to live rightly before Him - speaking of how they were to behave to themselves and others! This Mosaic covenant however, was never meant as a replacement for  the Abrahamic Covenant! By no means no! It was rather to be seen as an addition to it! It was looking forward to that day when it would be fulfilled when the long promised saviour and messiah would come. All the Covenants point towards this momentous event.

A Special Nation

Under the terms of this covenant Israel would be a special nation if they were obedient to Him and served Him faithfully. The Mosaic Covenant was never a means towards salvation. This covenant speaks of the living God who wants to live with His people! This was a God not made of stone or wood but the great God who desired intimacy with His people and wanted to live amongst them. But of course it had to be on His terms alone or He would not be able to live amongst them. The great and majestic God showing mercy and grace to His people Israel, who were to be a shining light to all nations of the glory of God, until the long promised saviour or messiah came from them. So, we have been through the Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic and now the Mosaic Covenant - the story continues tomorrow! Where do you think we are going next? Thank you!

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