The next examination of the b’rith of GOD, the LORD YHWH is the covenant He made with Israel through the Law; unlike most the covenants treated thus far, this one (like the Edenic) is conditional, and specific and exclusive to the nation of Israel and no other (Gentile) nation. Or the church for that matter.
As the suzerain of Israel, the LORD GOD had pronounced His blessings upon the nation, sworn to prosper them, protect them, provide for them and to perpetuate them; in exchange, as His vassal, Israel was to serve the LORD with wholehearted devotion that would reflect YHWH’s own, being obedient in all things.
Depending on their faithfulness, willing in their obedience to the LORD, there would be blessing, but if they rebelled, GOD had warned that a long list of curses would pursue them. This is what makes this covenant conditional.
But you might ask, didn’t GOD already promise to bless them unconditionally under the Abrahamic covenant?
Yes! However, those unconditional promises are reserved for fulfillment during the restored kingdom of Israel, under the rule of the Messiah.
Under the Mosaic covenant, Israel was to be a proper representative of a nation that serves the LORD and is blessed for it – they were intended to be a kind of role model for other nations, teaching them what obedience to GOD looks like, what it would bring by way of blessings – or curses for their disobedience!
Imagine if the unconditional blessings were granted to Israel (according to the Abrahamic Covenant) to begin with? After a fashion, they could start to think that they deserved those blessings (granted solely by grace)! So, the LORD in His wisdom decided to “run Israel through their paces” to prove to them how able they were to follow the Law – and after seeing their abject failure, they would all the more recognize the undeserved blessings freely given to them during the reestablishment of the kingdom of Israel!
So we will examine two primary chapters from the book of EXODUS in this article:
EXODUS 19 and 24 (with mention of Ch’s. 3 and 12 as well).
~ PART ONE
GOD’s sovereignty led the family of Jacob into Egypt during the great famine; over 400 years later they left Egypt as a nation (of approximately 1-2 million!). In His foreknowledge He knew what would transpire in Egypt, how His people would become slaves and that they would cry for deliverance:
EXODUS 2:24-25Remembering His covenant with Abraham, and with Isaac and the same with Jacob, the LORD took action to deliver His people from bondage, bring them out into the desert, lead them to Mount Sinai (aka Horeb) and there deliver the Law and the Covenant He would make with them thereby.
24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.
EXODUS 6:2-8GOD brings up His covenant (the Abrahamic, which He is here remembering) twice (vs. 4,5) and has revealed His Name which was not previously known: YHWH (the tetragrammaton). He declares that “with an outstretched arm and great judgments” He will redeem them.
2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: "I am the LORD [YHWH]. 3 "I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD [YHWH] I was not known to them. 4 "I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. 5 "And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 "Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 'I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 'And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the LORD [YHWH].'
This reminds me of another time when YHWH stretched out not one, but both arms – on a roughhewn Judean cross, pierced, and bloodied, where Israel’s as well as the world’s redemption was purchased (1 JOHN 2:2), and the “great judgments” that should have justly fallen upon us, fell instead upon Him (ISA 53:4-6,10).
But let’s back up and observe the scene between Moses and his first encounter with YHWH at the burning bush as documented in EXODUS 3):
Moses is at the backside of the desert.
He had been there for 40 years – do you ever feel like you’re at the backside of some place forever and wonder what GOD is up to in your life? Did it seem like you were going nowhere fast? Have you ever felt useless to GOD and to others in such a place? Consider how GOD prepared Moses and used him greatly for His Holy purposes! He is tending sheep that weren’t even his own. He sees a burning bush*.
*Not an uncommon sight in the desert where the intense heat of the sun would cause certain types of bush filled with a resinous oil to spontaneously combust.
Unlike his previous observations, this bush wasn’t consumed in the flame! He approached it to give it a closer inspection when he heard the voice of GOD calling out to him and He identified Himself as “the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (vs. 6) and as “I AM THAT I AM” (vs.14). He tells Moses that He remembers the promise He made to Abraham, and that He fully intends to deliver them from Egypt and bring them to the land He swore to Abraham (GEN 15:7,13-16).
GOD performs His wonders, pronouncing and executing judgment with 10 plagues upon Egypt and their 10 primary gods, provided proof to the Egyptians of GOD’s superiority over them all, and that He reveals Himself to His people as the One True GOD!
It isn’t until the angel of death touches the first born of Pharaoh, as well as all of Egypt who didn’t apply the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the lintels and doorposts of their homes that the king lets the Hebrew slaves go.
“Enter[ing] into covenant with the LORD” (DEUT 29:12) is a very significant phrase where we find covenants mentioned in the Bible. For example, Noah was commanded by GOD to “come [enter] into the ark (GEN 6:18)” – the building of this behemoth barge was a testament of faith by Noah in the Word of GOD, and as he was a righteous man who walked with GOD, the LORD made a covenant with him.
We see the same with the Abrahamic covenant, who entered (in agreement) with GOD by the LORD Himself (alone!) walking in the midst of the sacrifices, a sort of hallowed hallway of slain, severed, sanctified beasts.
In EXODUS 12 which inaugurates the Passover, we see the doorposts and lintels being stained in blood as the head of each household was instructed to do, and under that blood-dripping lintel he entered back into his home, having “entered in” covenant with the LORD and safely secure from the perils of “the destroyer” (death angel).
EXODUS 12:21-25
21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families and kill the Passover lamb. 22 "And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. 23 "For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 "And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 "It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.
This was the first instance of the nation of Israel being atoned for by blood and having escaped judgment from the angel of death, the same judgment that Pharaoh suffered under. Israel was delivered with the spoils of Egypt just as the LORD promised them (EXOD 3:17-22)!
Likewise the Jewish nation will acquire the prosperity of the Gentiles during the Millennial Reign (ISA 60:16), the Exodus with the favor and riches of Egypt being a type for this.
Having made atonement, the LORD delivers His people to Mount Sinai where He then delivers the terms of this covenant through the revelation of the Law which Israel was to obey, fulfilling their part just as the LORD has fulfilled His!
EXODUS 19:1-6
1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 'You 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, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; 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 which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
The LORD YHWH had proven Himself to be Almighty GOD by the wonders no one but He Himself could accomplish. He is Creator GOD, and therefore LORD and because He is LORD, He establishes the Law of His Kingdom. He presents His Law to His people Israel and if they will obey Him, and keep His covenant, then they would become His “special treasure” – they would enter into this suzerain relationship (Note: TTUF does not necessarily agree with everything in the article found at this link), enter into this covenant agreement upon Mount Sinai (which is why the Mosaic Covenant is sometimes called the Mount Sinai Covenant).
The church is called “a peculiar people” (precious, particular) as well as a “holy nation” and “a royal priesthood” (1 PET 2:9), but in the case of the church, it’s because we have believed by faith in Christ that we are known by GOD with these appellations. For Israel, they would be known by these descriptives if they believed GOD and obeyed the Law.
He Who has already called us out of darkness (1 PET 2:9), we’ve been declared as GOD’s people (1 PET 2:10) and obtained GOD’s mercy.
Now as a result of these blessings we inherited in Christ (EPH 1:3), we are to abstain from fleshly lusts, conduct ourselves honorably and righteously, with good works (1 PET 2:11-12) which brings further blessings into our lives!
The Hebrews had to constantly sacrifice animals in sin offerings because of the weakness of the flesh, entirely incapable of perfect obedience to the Law (ROM 7:7-14) – which we, who are New Testament saints find ourselves capable of fulfilling “the righteousness of the Law” (ROM 3:21-24; 4:13-16). This is only due to the indwelling power of the Spirit (ROM 8:4).
Also note that in vs. 5 GOD declares “all the earth is Mine”. But didn’t Satan assume ownership over the Earth when Adam sinned and stewardship was transferred to the devil?
Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world to the LORD Jesus in His wilderness temptations (MATT 4:8-9; LUKE 4:5-6; 2 COR 4:4). Bear in mind that a steward manages that which is not his own. Also, note that Satan didn’t offer the LORD the mountains, and valleys, the fields, lakes and seas: but the kingdoms of men in this world.
Satan is a ruler over the realm of mankind and a malevolent manager, but he doesn’t “own the Earth” because he didn’t create it.
And one day, the LORD Jesus – the last Adam will reclaim what the first Adam lost, which He won when He atoned for the sins of mankind!
EXODUS 19:7-15
7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." So Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. 9 And the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever." So Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. 10 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow and let them wash their clothes. 11 "And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 'Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain." 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.
Yet upon the pronouncement made by Moses regarding this Mount Sinai Covenant, the Hebrew people in sheer self-confidence agreed to do all that the LORD had spoken. They were “confident in the flesh” – something that the apostle Paul came to terms with, as someone who also was once confident in his right standing concerning the Law:
PHILIPPIANS 3:4-6
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Yet once he understood his right standing in Christ, he came to this conclusion:
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-11
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Even so, while growing in his knowledge in Christ (note: not knowing about Him, but knowing Him in personal relationship), he also understood that while the Law could make nothing perfect, this better covenant and hope (HEB 7:9; 8:6) didn’t make him instantly perfect in his practical state of being either, but was a process (PHIL 3:12-14). Certainly and absolutely this better covenant, the New Testament transforms a sinner into a saint, and they hold a position of pure righteousness before GOD the Father, Who sees us clothed in the righteous robes of Christ Himself. Yet we still have a corrupt sin nature as well:
The struggle he had is one that we all face – and he described it very well in ROMANS:
ROMANS 7:14-24
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
~ PART TWO
This is the internal war that we all fight as Christians, we who possess a dual nature: the first is after the old man (the first Adam who fell into sin and obtained a corrupt nature) and the second is after the new man (the last Adam who was innocent in His humanity and was incorruptible; see GAL 5:17).
The Law then provided the necessary standard of holiness and taught us that in ourselves, we are as incapable of achieving its supremely lofty standard as sinners as we are as saints – IF we rely on our own will and determination and power instead of that by the Holy Spirit (ZECH 4:6).
The Law is as Holy as the One Who revealed the Law to us: the LORD YHWH. He is the only Holy One, and there are none else. Being spiritually crippled by Adam’s fall into a sinful state, we are incapable of walking in His holiness.
In Christ however, we are healed of this spiritually crippled condition – we have the ability now to “walk in the Spirit” (GAL 5:25) but that doesn’t mean that we walk perfectly as Christ did while with us in this world of sin, but we should be able to demonstrate the ability (with all our fumbling and stumbling – which should become less and less frequent, just as a toddler progresses in their own ability to walk); 1 JOHN 2:6, 29.
EXODUS 19:16-22
16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the LORD, and many of them perish. 22 "Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them." 23 But Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.' 24 Then the LORD said to him, "Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest He break out against them." 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.
GOD in His absolute holiness cannot abide sin; it’s the reason why He couldn’t allow anyone on Mount Sinai; it’s the reason why as the Temple of the Holy Spirit we’ve been given new hearts – our old desperately wicked and corrupt hearts (JER 17:9) could never, ever be a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.
It’s the reason why they who are born of GOD cannot sin in their new nature, which is incorruptible (1 PET 1:23), as one day our minds and bodies will be! This is a blessedness we all long for as children of GOD!
To never sin and cause our Abba Father the pain He experiences because of this. To be fully, totally holy in a perfect innocence that Adam had and lost, but which we will regain in glory, is something of heaven in and of itself!
Remember, while Adam was created in a state of innocence, he was still corruptible – not corrupted, but corruptible. He was vulnerable to the infection of sin, should he decide to disobey GOD, which he did and inherited the corrupt nature of sin.
Our hearts are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and that seal means nothing can get in, and nothing can get out (incorruptible). The significance of this is, that the Holy Spirit (who is the “earnest of our inheritance” (2 COR 1:22; 5:5; EPH 1:13-15) will never leave us (as He often had to do with Old Testament saints, which He had to do eventually in the days of Ezekiel when He reluctantly departed from the Temple). This also means that no demonic spirit or fallen angel can invade our born again hearts.
If any would seek to worship GOD, to be in fellowship and communion with Him, they must do so from a place of holiness (JOHN 4:23) and therefore acceptable into said worship, fellowship, and communion (ROM 12:2; 14:8; EPH 1:6; 5:9-10; 1 PET 2:5) – that is the heart of GOD! To be in union with His fallen creation, but without violating His holy standard as represented in the Law.
Where two are alone, they may join with another in marriage and experience a unity. When a woman is alone, she may experience a joining in the conception of a child and experience unity. Marriage and conception are both about life.
And true, genuine, eternal life is all about knowing GOD in worship, fellowship, and communion when we are no longer alone, but joined (“glued”) together with our LORD Jesus Christ (1 COR 6:17), all because of the blessed atonement He paid Himself for the sins of the world!
For the complete study of EXODUS 19, follow this link.
EXODUS 24:1-3
1 Now He said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 "And Moses alone shall come near the LORD, but they shall not come near; nor shall the people go up with him." 3 So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, "All the words which the LORD has said we will do.
“Worship from afar”. The day is coming and is now here that they that worship GOD do indeed worship Him in Spirit and in Truth: this is only possible by the atonement and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are no longer worshiping from afar because we ourselves as the body of Christ are the quintessential Temple of the Holy Spirit. May we keep ourselves from polluting this Temple in our minds via thinking and our bodies via action – and remember the Josiah Mandate!
EXODUS 24:4-8
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do and be obedient." 8 And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.
This is the second time the people said, “All that the LORD has said we will do and be obedient” (EXOD 19:8). In the mouth of these two witnesses, being these two different times, the people of Israel testified against themselves and proved over the course of time (particularly in the wilderness wanderings!) that they would NOT do all that the LORD had commanded them! GOD knew in advance this would happen, and He even went so far as to tell His people that in generations to come, they would depart from Him and worship false, pagan gods!
DEUTERONOMY 31:19-20
19 "Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 "When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant.
As the sovereign, the suzerain over Israel, GOD entered into this Covenant of Sinai (Mosaic Covenant) and as stated at the beginning, this is a conditional covenant. The LORD GOD provided His part, but Israel failed to provide theirs. GOD didn’t break this covenant, Israel did!
As a result, after multiple generations, the apostasy became so intense that they were all carried off to Babylon for seventy years, until in His mercy, the LORD brought them back into the land during the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.
Then they served the LORD faithfully, but only for a time – eventually their apostasy from the Word rose up, and they favored the traditions and oral teachings of various rabbis and scribes. This was in the days of the Incarnate WORD, the Messiah, who Israel had crucified by Roman soldiers. Forty years later, Israel was once again cast out of the land.
Yet because of the unconditional covenant with Abraham, GOD swore that He would bless and exalt His people Israel – regardless of their faithlessness, He abides faithful (2 TIM 2:13).
Observe however, that He still brought these people to Sinai where they heard the Word of the LORD read to them, they were then anointed with the blood of sacrifices, and this was the second time a sacrifice was made (the first being Passover, where the doors of their homes were anointed), this blood being sprinkled on their own bodies!
EXODUS 24:9-18
9 Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. 11 But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank. 12 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them." 13 So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them." 15 Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain. 16 Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 The sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
For the complete study of EXODUS (23 &) 24, follow this link.
Observe that in all of these covenants, it’s GOD’s desire to reveal Himself to His people. Every subsequent covenant that followed after the previous one, would being greater and deeper revelation and thereby understanding of the LORD. This is most especially true in the new covenant made not with the blood of goats and bulls, but with the precious blood of the LAMB of GOD!
Here on Mount Sinai the LORD YHWH revealed Himself in glorious ways, and particularly to Moses; to a lesser degree to Joshua, and lesser still to the other seventy elders of Israel.
How is Christ the ultimate fulfillment of this Mosaic or Mount Sinai covenant?
The LORD Jesus came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill the Law (MATT 5:17) - and how? By having perfect obedience to the Holy Law, He proved Himself as the LAMB of GOD without "spot" or "blemish" (1 PET 1:19; that is, no inherent flaw in His humanity, and no subsequent flaw during the course of His Holy Life). Because He fulfilled the Law on our behalf, He has become the perfect propitiation and qualified as our kinsman goel to make an atonement for our sins.
As the Messiah King, He shall one day rule in the land of Israel, and the Law shall be in full effect as the Law of the land for every Jew under His reign - this shall continue until the end of the Millennial age, at which time heaven and earth shall indeed pass away (MATT 5:18; 2 PET 3:10; REV 20:11).
Don't forget to watch this Eight Part series by Gideon Levytam of the Holy Scriptures and Israel Youtube channel as he expounds on the Mosaic/Mount Sinai Covenant!
The next covenant to be examined is the LAND (Palestinian) Covenant PART 6 of 8! Until then, may the LORD bless and keep you in the Holy, Exalted and Blessed Name of the LORD Jesus Christ!
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