In our study of Exodus chapter twenty four, we see the establishment of the covenant between God and the people of Israel.
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To Moshe said, "Come up to ADONAI - you, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu, and seventy of the leaders of Isra'el. Prostrate yourselves at a distance, while Moshe alone approaches ADONAI - the others are not to approach, and the people are not to go up with him."
We see that God told Moshe, Aharon , and the two sons of Aharon to come up the mountain and bring the seventy leaders of Israel with them. Four names are listed and the number four reminds us that their is a change coming while the number seventy speaks of the nations. In this, we see that these instructions were given to Israel with the purpose of transforming the nations. We also see that the others were to worship God from a distance while Moshe drew near to God.
Moshe came and told the people everything ADONAI had said, including all the rulings. The people answered with one voice: "We will obey every word ADONAI has spoken."
When Moshe gave the people the judgements of God, all of the people said that they would follow the words of the Lord. In this we see that unity is possible when everyone is focused on the will of God.
Moshe wrote down all the words of ADONAI. He rose early in the morning, built an altar at the base of the mountain and set upright twelve large stones to represent the twelve tribes of Isra'el. He sent the young men of the people of Isra'el to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings of oxen to ADONAI. Moshe took half of the blood and put it in basins; the other half of the blood he splashed against the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant and read it aloud, so that the people could hear; and they responded, "Everything that ADONAI has spoken, we will do and obey." Moshe took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which ADONAI has made with you in accordance with all these words."
We see that Moshe wrote down the judgements of God, built an altar, and set up monuments one for each of the tribes of Israel. In the number twelve we see the divine spiritual authority of Israel. The young men offered sacrifices and we see that bulls were offered and that represents the best that they had. Moshe threw half of the blood from the bulls on the altar and read the book of the covenant. The people agreed again to follow the terms of the covenant and then Moshe threw the rest of the blood from the bulls on the people which is a picture of redemption and a preparation for service.
Moshe, Aharon, Nadav, Avihu and seventy of the leaders went up; and they saw the God of Isra'el. Under his feet was something like a sapphire stone pavement as clear as the sky itself. He did not reach out his hand against these notables of Isra'el; on the contrary, they saw God, even as they were eating and drinking.
Now, we see a meeting of seventy five with Moshe, Aharon, the sons of Aharaon, the seventy leaders of Israel and God. We remember that the number seventy five is a number that is associated with redemption. When these seventy four men saw God they saw a brick pavement made of saphire under His feet and that speaks of purity. When these men saw God they were not struck down and, as they were eating and drinking, they had a vision of God. The fact that they were eating and drinking speaks of fellowship with God and it is also an act of worship as before and after we eat we are to exalt God.
ADONAI said to Moshe, "Come up to me on the mountain, and stay there. I will give you the stone tablets with the Torah and the mitzvot I have written on them, so that you can teach them."
Moshe was told to go up on the mountain where he would get the stone tablets containing the Torah and the commandments of God so that he could instruct the people.
Moshe got up, also Y'hoshua his assistant; and Moshe went up onto the mountain of God. To the leaders he said, "Stay here for us, until we come back to you. See, Aharon and Hur are with you; whoever has a problem should turn to them." Moshe went up onto the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
Moshe took Y'hoshua (Joshua in english) and went up the mountain and he left Aharon and Hur to be judge for the people in his absence. The mountain was covered by the cloud which was the presence of God.
The glory of ADONAI stayed on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moshe out of the cloud. To the people of Isra'el the glory of ADONAI looked like a raging fire on the top of the mountain. Moshe entered the cloud and went up on the mountain; he was on the mountain forty days and nights.
We see Moshe worship God for six days but, on the seventh day, God called to Moshe and this speaks of revelation. To the people below, it looked like there was a raging fire on the mountain. Moshe went into the cloud and was there for forty days and nights and that number speaks of change.
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