Finding Jesus in Jeremiah

Week One: Day Four – An Amazing Encounter with God

Today we will read about an encounter that Moses, Joshua and the elders had with an Almighty God. I would say that an encounter like the one you are going to read about is impossible – except that it is described in detail in the book of Exodus. Scripture tells us about the actual agreement between the two parties that would come to be known as “the Old Covenant” or “the Law”.

Read Exodus 24:1-18

The events described in Exodus 24 happened back in 1400 BC. In those times, people from different tribes or families, would enter into covenants with each other so that they could help protect each other, help feed and clothe each other, etc. Nations would enter into covenant with other nations to fend off attackers. The Israelites living during that time would have been familiar with what a covenant was. You would keep a covenant, even if you had to give your life to keep it. Entering into a covenant was something that people and tribes took very seriously. Remember, this was at a time in history when keeping your word was expected and the honorable thing to do. People didn’t have lawyers - they gave their word and honored their commitment. No one entered into a covenant lightly, they understood that they would be honor-bound to keep every part of it.

Exodus 24 describes the making of the covenant between God and the Israelites.

1. After Moses had shared with the people all of the words of the law and the terms of the covenant, the people responded by saying with one voice, (v.3) “________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________”. 2. Moses went up the mountain and saw the God of Israel. Who was with him? (v. 9) _________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. What did they do after they saw God? (v.11) ________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

Back then, at the making of a covenant, there was always a solemn covenant meal that the two parties would eat together. It was symbolic, and showed that from that day on they would share everything with each other. They were committed to one another. When Moses, Aaron and the elders ate and drank, they understood that this was a covenant meal – representing a new partnership with God. The seventy elders were representatives of all of the people.

Read Exodus 25:1-22

God gave instructions to Moses regarding building a sanctuary for worship. This sanctuary, or tabernacle, would have to be easily transported, since they were still in the wilderness. Eventually the design of the sanctuary would become a permanent structure (the temple) in Jerusalem.

Inside the tabernacle would be some furniture which God Himself would design. He began with the ark.

The ark was a wooden box with a lid that opened so that items could be stored inside. The box was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold inside and out. The ark could be easily transported by two poles that would slip thru rings fastened to the ark. The poles were also overlaid with pure gold.

4. Where would God specifically meet with the people? (v. 21)_________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

Inside the ark, Moses would keep the “Words of the Covenant”, also called “the Testimony”, which were the two stone tablets written by the hand of God. This was the holy document representing the covenant that they had witnessed and agreed to. The Ark of the Covenant was kept in the Holy of Holies – highlighting the great value of the covenant relationship God had with the Israelites.

The cover on top of the ark formed a seat or bench. It was called the “mercy seat” sometimes called the “atonement cover”. On the mercy seat were two carved angels, or cherubim, with wings attached. The angels were a reminder that this ark was holy, and that God’s Presence was there. Everything was overlaid in pure gold. (Exodus 37:1-9)

God told Moses that He Himself would meet with the people over the mercy seat between the wings of the cherubim. He said His holy Presence would be found there. The Ark of the Covenant was so holy that no one dared touch it or he would die. (Exodus 40:34-35)

Once the tabernacle was completed, the Ark of the Covenant was placed inside the inner room, called the “Holy of Holies” or “Most Holy Place”. It was shielded behind a thick veil. No one, not even the priests, were allowed to go inside the Most Holy Place. Only once a year, the high priest could go inside, but even then the people were afraid that he might die in the Presence of God – so they tied a rope to his ankle when he went in. (To study all of the furniture in the tabernacle, the sacrifices, the priesthood, and festivals, read Exodus 25-40).

400 years later when David became king, he wanted to build God a permanent dwelling – a home for the Ark of the Covenant. God agreed to a permanent sanctuary in Jerusalem. But God said that David’s son, Solomon, would be the one to build the temple because David had been in battles and had blood on his hands. God gave David specific details on how to build it.

Read 1 Kings 6:11-22

So Solomon built the permanent temple in Jerusalem. This temple was the center of Jewish life from the time it was built and dedicated in 957 BC., until the day it was destroyed in 586 BC.

5. Based on today’s readings, how important was the Mosaic Covenant to the people of Israel? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________