As we continue through the book of Multiply, by Francis Chan, we continue to learn more and more about the Old Testament of the Bible. In this session we will learn about another covenant God made, this time with Moses. Up to this point we have learned about the God of the Bible; we learned about the creation of the world, and Adam and Even; we learned about how sin came into the world and how God has been at work in all humanity.
If you want to catch up in the series you can go to this link and get a summary to refresh the entire series.
Category Archives: Multiply 2019
Israelite State of Mind
Let’ try to place ourselves in the shoes of the Israelites. They quickly went from being the slaves of one of the most powerful nations on earth to being set free through a series of frightening miracles. They watched as God made fools of Egypt’s gods and Egypt’s “divine” ruler through the ten plagues. They marched out of Egypt as their former masters showered them with gifts of gold, silver, and clothing. They witnessed the impossible as God led them along dry ground through the midst of a parted sea. They saw God singlehandedly destroy the most powerful army in the region by simply unparting the sea.
We have not witnessed such an event to this proportion, but we may have many instances where God has shown up and we were in that state of awe. When we get to a point where we just stop and try to fathom who this God is that loves us so much. We wonder about what is next and what he is up to.
Mount Sinai
Probably still being dumbfounded by the event at the Red Sea, as they went into the wilderness how could they even know what to expect, except that God was going to be with them, and that was exciting, yet unpredictable all at the same time.
It does not take long and the commonality of the Israelites and us becomes apparent. Miracles and blessings quickly fade and the Israelites begin complaining. Then a dramatic event takes place on their journey as they approach Mount Sinai.
I don’t know if it is just me, but when I think of wilderness, I think of trees and jungle, but looking at the region where they were at, the wilderness just might have been deep valleys endless turns in the heat of the desert. Mount Sinai It is at Mount Sinai where Moses gets the Ten Commandments, and later it is referenced as Mount Horeb, and they are considered the same location. Just southeast of Egypt.
It was at the base of Mount Sinai where the Israelites learn that this mysterious God was going to reveal himself to them and enter into a relationship with them. Think of it like if someone miraculously paid off your mortgage, your student loan, provided a brand new car in the driveway, filled with all kinds of food and great clothes, but they remained anonymous. You would be grateful, but it would still be strange. Maybe we get a note from the giver and we learn of their name. We call them or send a message that we are so grateful, but it would be a great moment when we get to actually meet them. That is what this scene is like way back in the day. Remember that we said they had uncertainty of what to expect from this all powerful God, but it is at Mount Sinai that God shares his plans..
3while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” – Exodus 19:3-6 ESV
(note the reference to Yahweh: LORD)
But to begin the relationship, the Israelites had to prepare themselves…
10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. – Exodus 19:10-12 NIV
While Moses met with God on Mount Sinai, the mountain was surrounded by smoke, lightning, and thunder. The people were not even allowed to touch the base of the mountain lest they be killed. God was doing something unique here, and He demonstrated this reality in dramatic fashion. Let’s finish reading chapter 19….
Why was the people’s cleansing of themselves and staying clear of the mountain significant?
How should this encounter with God affect the way we view Him?
Holy God & Sinful People
It is at this point that some revelation must be confirmed. The covenant of Abraham and God has now come to reality. the promise of a numerous nation, promised land and now they learn that they are to be a blessing to all nations on earth through Him. It is now confirmed; The LORD would be Israel’s God, and Israel would be His people.
As we know the difficulties of relationships in our lives, we cannot truly see the difficulty of a holy God entering into a relationship with sinful people. Our only experience has been with sinful people. For God to have a healthy relationship with these people he needed to lay out some expectations and guidance for living as people of God. That is where the Old Testament Law came in. The Law was not intended to punish, but to protect and guide.
It is this exact purpose and reference that we read in Matthew chapter 5
I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. – Matthew 5:17 NLT
Now we can bridge the intentions of God in Exodus, with the living example of Jesus in the New Testament.
Exodus 20:1-21
What do the Ten Commandments reveal about the character of God?
What do the Ten Commandments reveal about the way God wants humanity to live?
Maintaining the Relationship
The Law poses some difficult theological questions for Christians today. We know that we are saved by grace and not by works. In other words, there is no way that we can earn our way to God by keeping rules and doing good deeds—we are too sinful to be sufficiently obedient, and God saves us by grace through faith.
The strange situation is that the Law never states that the Israelites will receive ultimate salvation if they perfectly keep every aspect of the Law. In fact, the Law itself assumes that the Israelites will fail in keeping the Law, that is why the sacrificial system is defined. The Law was never intended to give people a why to behave properly to become God. Remember, that is what Satan wanted and enticed Eve with (being god). Instead the Law is to maintain a relationship with a holy God.
Can you explain the difference of keeping the Law to earn God’s favor and keeping the Law to maintain a relationship with God?
Why was it important for God to give the Law to the Israelites?
Blessing and Curse
We must now understand that all covenants are not the same. The covenant with Abraham was unconditional, it was a promise God made to Abraham. Now the covenant with Moses was much different. The covenant that Moses got was conditional.
God would bless Israel, bring them safely into the Promised Land, provide for them IF they were faithful to observe God’s Law. God would always keep his promise to Abraham, but the promises He made at Mount Sinai were dependent on faithful obedience. The blessings were never promised if they remained perfect, because God knew they could not be perfect, that is why the sacrificial system. God would provide, but if they did not obey they would be cursed and taken into exile.
Now fast forwarding to Deuteronomy 28, Moses gathers the Israelites together and reminds them that if they are faithful to God and keep the covenant, He would bless them unimaginably. But if they rebelled and failed to keep their end of the covenant, God would send them a curse instead. The second half of Deuteronomy 28 goes into great detail of the consequences to disobedience.
As we continue in through the Old Testament, we will see how Israel’s failure to remain faithful to God’s covenant and the resting consequences experienced.
Kingdom of Priests
The covenant God made with Moses had an additional blessing that was beyond the Israel nation, and that was to be a blessing to all other nations. In Exodus 19, God clarified the expectations:
5Now 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. 6And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” – Exodus 19:5-6 NLT
Just so we understand, a priest has two responsibilities; present a holy God to sinful people, and to represent a sinful people to a holy God. So as a nation, Israel is meant to represent their God to the nations around them and intercede for the nations around them back to the holy God. This is where the term “holy nation” is defined. They were intended to stand out, to clearly be different from other nations. They were set apart for God’s purpose. They were to minister on God’s behalf, to show the holy character of God to the world, and be a light to all nations. Sound familiar?
We are not the nation of Israel, but God uses similar phrases…
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood. – 1 Peter 2:5 ESV
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. – 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
How should God’s covenant with Moses and the Israelites affect the way we view ourselves as the people of God?
This week, meditate on the opportunities to fulfill the covenant with God, but representing a holy God to people that don’t know Him. Intercede for those that you interact this week with and relay to God in prayer and supplication the situations you felt and experienced.
The bible reading for this coming week to support the next Multiply session is a bit more challenging and maybe exciting as we bounce around a bit. When reading these chapters, ask God how they tie together, how are they apart of a grand plan that He has.
Leviticus 16
Leviticus 17
Leviticus 19
Deuteronomy 16
Hebrews 8
Hebrews 9
Hebrews 10
Isaiah 53
You can also watch the video to support next week below…
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
The New International Version. (2011). (Ex 19:10–12). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Chan, Francis. Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples David C Cook. Kindle Edition.