Exodus: The Lord and His PilgrimsSample

Immovably secure

The picture in verse 4 is not perhaps detailed in the way we would wish. Yet the whole of Israel – the redeemed people, God’s firstborn son – is represented by twelve pillars, and we are at liberty to think of the altar (the divine presence) that Moses also builds as being encircled by those who have been brought to God (19:4). The stonework used for the pillars stands for permanency; twelve stands for totality. A telling portrayal of what has been achieved – acceptation into the actual presence of God – is fixed there in perpetuity. 

Israel was brought out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb; the blood of sacrifice holds them secure in the presence of their Redeemer God (vv. 5–6). The burnt offerings stand for commitment and atonement; the peace offerings for acceptance and fellowship. The way Moses uses the blood, in verses 6–8, completes the imagery. Remember how at the Passover the Lord came in wrath but passed over in peace the blood-marked houses (12:13). Wrath was satisfied and peace established by the evidence that a substitute had died. Blood as such symbolised life laid down and terminated in death, and first exercised its wondrous effect Godward. In the same way in Exodus 24 the blood is first applied Godward (v. 6), and this is the reason why Israel is immovably secure: the blood satisfies wrath and secures peace. 

But the primary characteristic of the redeemed is obedience to the word of God. For this reason Moses reads the Book of the Covenant and the people respond with a commitment to obey (v. 7). Yet no sooner have they committed themselves to obey than the remaining blood is sprinkled on them (vv. 7–8). In other words, while they commit themselves to obedience, the precious blood of their substitute covers all their shortcomings, deficiencies and failures. We walk in the light of God’s word and the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, keeps on cleansing us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The life of the redeemed is always dependent on sacrificial blood; we are the recipients and trustees of the revealed word of God; and our life of obedience is still covered by the blood that saved us.

Reflection

Rejoice in the words of this hymn: 

‘There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains ... Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its power till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more.’

(William Cowper, ‘There is a fountain filled with blood’)