Sunday School: 6/1/2008

The Book of the Covenant, Part 2

Exodus 22:18-24:18
I. Context
Who are the main characters in this passage? What do we know about them?

As in the previous passage, the Lord is speaking directly to Moses (20:22). This is a "one-way" discourse given by
God to Moses. We know that the Lord has shown himself as might & powerful, faithful to his people, intimately
connected with his people ("Lord"), patient and gracious. We have seen Moses develop from a reluctant shepherd
to an obedient mouthpiece for God. He has shown himself faithful and trustworthy to the Lord in his responses to
the trials of Egypt as well as the trials of the wilderness of the Exodus. At the end of the passage we see the people
responding in affirmation of the covenant (24:3). We also see mention of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (Aaron's sons),
and 70 elders of Israel (24:9).

When does this passage take place?

This passage is a continuation of the previous passage where the Lord gives the Ten Commandments; thus, there is
no indication of a passing of time between the events of the first half of this section and the second half and
following. Exodus 19:1 tells us that the israelites arrived at Sinai exactly three months after leaving Egypt, so this
passage is taking place around the end of May/beginning of June.

Where does this passage take place?

As this passage is a continuation of the Lord's giving of the law to Moses, the events are still located at Mt. Sinai.

What is going on? (Summary of Events)

In this section of scripture, the Lord continues his discourse to Moses on the covenant laws. The first section
focuses on social and religious responsibilities (22:18-23:9), the second section deals with Sabbaths and Feasts
(23:10-19), and the third section deals with their actions toward the nations they would conquer (23:20-33). After
this, Moses told the people all that God had said and they responded "Everything the Lord has said we will do."
(24:3) and then Moses wrote down what God had said to him.
The next day, Moses build an altar and they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to God. He read
again the laws that God had given to them, to which the people affirmed their submission, and Moses sprinkled
some of the blood from the sacrifices on the people as a seal of the covenant between them and the Lord. (24:8)
Moses, Aaron & his sons, and the 70 elders went up the mountain, saw the Lord in his glory, and dwelt in
fellowship with the Lord for awhile (24:9-11). Then the Lord told Moses to come up to the top of the mountain
again and entered the cloud of God's glory, staying there for forty days and forty nights. (24:12-18)

II. Interpretation
What principles are illustrated in this passage? What would you consider the theme of this passage?

What do we learn of God's character based upon the types and nature of these laws? Does this passage point us toward or
connect with Christ? If so, how?

Why was it important for the Lord to reveal himself not only to Moses, but to Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders of
Israel?

III. Application: Romans 3:21-31

"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ
Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice,
because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at
the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is
excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is
justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of
Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that
same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law."
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