February 22, 2022 - Exodus 22-24

When God speaks it is wise to listen! The people of Israel had found this to be true as they have journeyed from Egypt to Mount Sinai. Throughout the journey, the Lord had been directing them and leading their way with a cloud and a pillar of fire.

In Exodus 19:3, God spoke to Moses and commands him to come up on the mountain to behold His presence. Mount Sinai became a pulpit of sorts for God to command and give ordinances to the people of Israel that they might live righteously before Him.

In the chapters of Exodus 19-23, God graciously presented to the people a set of standards or laws that they were to observe among the tribes of Israel. Each of these laws were instructions on how to live and conduct their lives.

Before the leaders began the ascent in Exodus 24:1, Moses presented the covenant of the Lord to the people of Israel. With one voice the people stated, "All the words which the Lord has said we will do" (24:3). After completing the sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood upon the people, Moses and the leaders climbed the mountain (24:9), where they could see God and dine with Him. Moses then is separated further and spends an additional forty days and nights with God on the mountain.

It is a critical moment when man makes a covenant with God as the Israelites did. Although we may not see the mountain quake or the fire descend as Moses and the people of Israel did, God has not changed. The people of Israel needed to do more than just listen to God. They had made a covenant with God to obey His commandments. May we have an ear to hear and a will to accomplish that which we covenant before our Savior (Revelation 1:3).