Exodus 24:1-11

They Saw the God of Israel

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1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.

2Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”

3When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”

4And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.

5Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.

6Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splattered on the altar.

7Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

8So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,

10and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

11But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Moses tells the people all the LORD's words and rules. They answer together that they will obey. He writes down the LORD's words and builds an altar with twelve pillars for Israel's twelve tribes. Young men offer sacrifices, and Moses puts half the blood on the altar. After reading the Book of the Covenant and hearing the people's promise again, he sprinkles blood on them, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant.”

The blood on the altar and the people marks the covenant the LORD makes with Israel according to His words. Their relationship with Him rests on terms He has given, and the sacrifices show the seriousness of entering that relationship. Their promise to obey is a response to God, not permission to decide for themselves what faithfulness means.

Moses then goes up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders. They see the God of Israel, with something like sapphire pavement beneath His feet, as clear as the sky. The account describes what is under His feet without describing His appearance. We should receive that restraint along with the wonder of what it says.

God does not strike these leaders down. They eat and drink in His presence. This passage begins with limits on who may approach, yet it ends with a meal before Him. The holy God who sets those limits also grants His people fellowship. Their place at the meal is His gift, and their promise deserves the humility of people who depend on His mercy.

How We Know

Hebrews 9:18–22 explicitly recalls Moses proclaiming the commandments, sprinkling blood, and speaking of “the blood of the covenant.” It uses this scene to explain why the first covenant was put into effect with blood and why forgiveness requires the shedding of blood. This is a connection Hebrews itself makes, rather than a resemblance we have supplied. It shows how Exodus helps us understand the need for the sacrifice that Hebrews presents as fulfilled in Christ.

Questions

1 Who goes partway up the mountain, and what do the leaders see?

AnswerMoses goes partway up with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders. They see the God of Israel, with something like a pavement of sapphire beneath His feet, and eat and drink in His presence.

2 What does Moses read before the people, and how do they respond?

AnswerMoses reads the Book of the Covenant to the people, and they answer, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Their response follows the reading of the written covenant.

3 How do the blood of the covenant and the shared meal mark Israel's relationship with God?

AnswerThe blood marks the covenant God makes with Israel according to His words. The meal shows that He allows their representatives to enjoy fellowship in His presence: they see Him, and He does not strike them down.

4 How can our household receive God's word as a covenant obligation rather than a suggestion?

AnswerChoose one promise your household has made and examine whether your habits support it. Make one change that gives the promise practical weight.

What This Means for Us

Israel's covenant is not a mood created by the mountain. It is a binding response to God's word, sealed with blood and meant to govern the life of the people.

Christian families should speak carefully about commitment. Grace is not an excuse for casual promises; it is the ground from which faithful obedience grows.

Prayer

We pray: Holy God, make us hearers and doers of your covenant word. Give our promises humility, our worship seriousness, and our shared life the kind of faithfulness that does not depend on a moment of excitement. Amen.

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