24 AugustExodus 24

The Blood of the Covenant

Exodus 24:4-8 (AMP) “Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. Then he got up early in the morning, and built an altar [for worship] at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars (memorial stones) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in large basins, and [the other] half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people; and they said, “Everything that the Lord has said we will do, and we will be obedient.” So Moses took the blood [which had been placed in the large basins] 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.”

Blood is the foundation of our relationship with God. He teaches us that the way to have a relationship with Him is through blood. When blood was sprinkled on the people, it showed they were now in a covenant relationship with God. They became His people and were marked as belonging to Him. In the New Testament, this idea becomes even more significant, highlighting the role of Jesus and how we belong to the second covenant through Him.

What happens at Sinai is echoed in the New Testament. Instead of needing the blood of animals from burnt and peace offerings, a different kind of blood was required. Under the new covenant, animal blood would not be enough. Jesus would offer his blood. Hebrews 9:11-12 (AMP) “But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things to come [that is, true spiritual worship], He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this [material] creation. He went once for all into the Holy Place [the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God], and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, having obtained and secured eternal redemption [that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior]”.

This leads us to Romans 3:22-25 (AMP) “This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]”.

God's desire for a covenant means He wants to establish a binding agreement with us, much like a sacred promise. In ancient times, covenants were often sealed with the blood of animals as a symbol of commitment and trust. However, God chose a new way through Jesus. Unlike the old covenants that required animal sacrifices, Jesus offered himself as the perfect sacrifice. His blood was shed to cleanse us from sin and make a way for us to be in a covenant with God.

Jesus's sacrifice invites us into a new and everlasting covenant with God. This relationship is based on faith, grace, and God's love. We become His people, and He becomes our God.