They Saw GOD

 

They Saw GOD

Exodus 24: 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.

 

============

 

Moses and the leaders of Israel went up part of the way of the mountain. When they got to a certain point, they could see GOD.

 

My Observations:

• I believe they saw the preincarnate JESUS.
• I believe JESUS brought HIS own pavement from heaven and it was a blue sapphire with extreme clarity.
• I believe JESUS did not touch the leaders of Israel because HE did not anoint all of them.

 

Seeing GOD should have been enough to keep the faith extremely high for the rest of their lives. In fact, they heard what Moses said when he first mentioned that GOD was going to dismantle Egypt. They saw the plagues and saw that they were not affected by them. They saw the defeat of Egypt. They got water from a rock. They also received Manna and quail every day.

 

But the children of Israel had a mindset that was difficult to change. No matter what was given to them or shown to them, they would still think the way they wanted. JESUS appeared in preincarnate form and did not touch them. They may have been excited to be chosen to see GOD, so they celebrated by eating the sacrificial food. They saw GOD, BUT GOD did not touch them.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD remind Moses about the leaders of Israel seeing JESUS?
• Has GOD provided for you, shown you wonders and given you promises and yet, you still have not fully believed and are choosing your own path?
• How much more does GOD have to do for you to put your trust in HIM?

Agreeing With the Book of the Covenant

Agreeing With the Book of the Covenant

Exodus 24: 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.” 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.”

 

============

 

After hearing GOD’s voice, the people got scared and asked Moses to speak to GOD. So GOD spoke to Moses and gave him laws, rules and guidelines to protect the children of Israel. Moses wrote them down and read them to the children of Israel. They agreed.

 

My Observations:

• GOD told Moses to bring Aaron and Aaron’s sons and seventy elders up to worship HIM.
• GOD then told Moses that he was the only one who was allowed up, but the rest were closer to GOD’s proximity.
• Moses wrote all of GOD’s laws, rules and guidelines HE gave from the Ten Commandments up to this point.

 

It was now a couple of months into the trip to the promised land. GOD spoke to everyone, stating the Ten Commandments out loud. Everyone got so scared that they begged Moses to speak to GOD and for him to bring what HE said to them. GOD took time and gave Laws, rules and guidelines to Moses. He read them to the people. They agreed.

 

Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu were the first high priests outside of Moses and Aaron. It’s amazing that GOD would call specific people, knowing when and how they would fall. These brothers are known for offering “strange fire” to the LORD much later. But for now, they were part of the establishment of high priests. The people agreed when things were going well. Little did they know that times would get difficult.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD call for specific people to hear the reading of what HE commanded?
• Have you agreed to show love, joy, peace and patience and other parts of the fruit of the Spirit, yet have reneged?
• Will you praise GOD today for giving you many chances to get it right without condemning you because HE loves you?