God called Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel up into the mountain to worship, but we notice that, with the exception of Moses, who was in a place of special nearness, they had to worship “afar off.” They could not come near in worship because Christ’s work of redemption had not yet been accomplished. The only true ground of approach to God is through the shed blood of Christ, as Hebrews 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19) tells us, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:1919Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19)). Now, we who are saved can come into the very presence of God and worship without any doubts as to our acceptance, for we are “accepted in the Beloved [in Christ]” (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)).
Empty Promises
The children of Israel knew nothing of this, nor of their own utter weakness, and so once again we find them promising full obedience to God. How sure they were of themselves! On one occasion before the giving of the law, and twice after it had been given, they said, “All that the Lord hath spoken we will do and be obedient” (or words very similar). They never seemed to realize their own helplessness before God, and yet even in this present day how many are the same. How very few are willing to own their true position before God as helpless, lost sinners. It is one of the hardest things for the natural man to do. He clings and clings and clings to his own self-righteous rags (Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)), and will not exchange them for the “best robe” which God provides (Isaiah 61:1010I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)). How about you? Have you taken your true place, and accepted Christ as your Saviour? If not, will you not do it today and be saved?
Dedicated With Blood
Now God knew beforehand that the children of Israel could never obtain the blessings of His covenant through their own obedience, and therefore a sacrifice was slain and its blood shed. The death of a substitute was, and still is, the only ground of blessing for ruined man. Therefore God’s covenant with Israel must be dedicated with blood, and so Moses sprinkled the book and all the people with the blood of the sacrifice. The lawbreaker deserved death, but through the blood of the sacrifice, God could go on with His people. He could look ahead to the cross where His own Son, the only Perfect Sacrifice, would die for sinners.
God Fulfills His Promises
Pillars were often erected in those days to keep up the memory of some great event, and so Moses erected twelve pillars, one for each of the tribes, in the place where he offered the sacrifices. If Israel were to come into blessing, as they will in a coming day, it must be through the death of a sacrifice. Moses’ sacrifices pointed on to the perfect sacrifice of Christ by which the new covenant will be brought in (Hebrews 8:6-136But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:6‑13)), not founded upon what Israel hoped to do and failed in, but upon what Christ has already done.
After the sacrifice had been offered and the blood sprinkled, then these chosen men went up and saw the God of Israel. They caught a glimpse of His glory. This would no doubt tell us of the time of the new covenant, when chosen ones from Israel will be before the throne, and see the glory of God in a wonderful way during the thousand years of Christ’s reign (Revelation 7:1515Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. (Revelation 7:15)).
Further Meditation
1. Why did Moses sprinkle the book of the law with blood?
2. What other promises has God made for your blessing?
3. The Bible Promise Book is a nice book of scriptures that have been topically arranged by K. Abraham. While some of the categories can only loosely be referred to as promises, many of them show God’s character in always fulfilling His promises.