“And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 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.’ 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.'”
– Exodus 24:6–8
Exodus 24:6–8 is a very powerful scene. And the book of Exodus says God is confirming His covenant with His people, His promise to His people. This is the Mosaic covenant, God’s covenant with His people through Moses in which He promises them to give them His law, to lead them into the promised land, and to be with them, to protect them, to provide for them, to lead them to life, to bless them in so many different ways.
We are able to live in covenant with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.
And the people are saying, I read it in verse seven, “All the Lord has spoken we will do and we will be obedient.” Yes, I almost picture a marriage ceremony, God committing Himself to His people, His people committing themselves to God.
Exodus 24:6–8 Reminds Us of the Cross
And yet we know, and I don’t want to give away what’s going to come very soon after this, but before the blood of this covenant even had time to dry the people of God were forming a golden calf and worshiping and bowing down to that, were being unfaithful to this covenant with God, and yet God would not be unfaithful to them.
Even in this picture, so blood plays a very prominent role here. There are sacrifices, offerings being given, and there’s a blood being sprinkled against an altar. But then did you notice what verse eight said, “Moses took the blood and threw it on the people.” Right after they had said, “All the Lord has spoken we will do and we will be obedient.” 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.” And the picture is clear, God’s people will not be obedient to this covenant, but God has made a way through sacrifices for sin, depicted with the blood here, to cover over that sin before Him.
This Verse Reminds Us of the Blood of Jesus
And Exodus 24:6–8 is a picture in the Old Testament is setting up the greatest picture of all. The picture that provides the foundation for how we can pray right now because we in our hearts are disobedient toward God, we turn away from His word. The only way we can be in covenant with God is by the once-for-all full and final sacrifice of Jesus. His blood covers over all our sin so that despite our unfaithfulness to God, God is faithful to us. Think about 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” How is that possible? Only by the blood of Jesus.
Exodus 24:6–8 Leads Us to Give Thanks
So God, we come to you right now to give fresh thanksgiving, and praise, and honor, and glory, and worship to you for covering over our sins through sending Jesus to die on a cross for them. Jesus, we praise you for your blood that covers over all our sin. I think about my time with you this morning and just conviction of sin in my life.
Jesus, thank you for covering over all that sin. Thank you for cleansing me from all unrighteousness, and not just me but all of us who trust in you. Anyone, anywhere, no matter what we’ve done through trust and your grace and your mercy, the blood of Jesus covers over all our sin. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Exodus 24:6–8 Leads Us to Ask for Help
So help us, God, under the blood of the covenant. Help us to walk in obedience to you. God, we want to walk in faithful obedience to you. Please help us under the banner of Jesus’ blood shed for us to do all that you call us to do, to live in obedience to you today and tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. And God, if, when we fall short in this way or that way, God help us to be quick to confess our sin and to once again praise you for your grace and your mercy and your love that covers over our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Exodus 24:6–8 Leads Us to Thank God for Prayer
Jesus, thank you for making prayer possible, thank you for making communion right now with God possible. We praise you, Oh God, for your covenant commitment to us that will never ever, ever fail, a covenant commitment that will last for all of eternity based on your grace, not our works but based on your grace as we trust in you. We love and praise you, God, we praise you that we’re in relationship with you even deeper than a marriage relationship and a relationship that will last for ever and ever and ever.
And God, we pray that you’d help us to lead others to trust in Jesus to cover over their sins, to lead others in our lives today, to lead the Xai people in Vietnam to know and trust in the blood of Jesus shed for their sins. God, we pray for the spread of this good news through our lives as we celebrate the covenant relationship we have with you on a moment-by-moment, day-by-day basis. Let me pray this in Jesus’ name under the banner of His blood, amen.