Exodus 24

V 1–2: REVERENCE God commands Moses to bring up Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (the priests), and seventy of Israel’s elders to worship from afar. Moses alone shall come near God and the people must be kept away. God requires reverent fear. V 3–4a: RECORDED Moses tells the people what God has said and they promise that they will obey. Moses records all the words that God has given him. V 4b–8: REPRESENTED Moses builds an altar at the foot of the mountain with twelve pillars, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Burnt offerings and peace offerings are sacrificed to God, and Moses takes the blood and sprinkles half on the altar and half on the people, having taken the Book of the Covenant (God’s laws) and having read it to the people. He emphasises both the blood of the covenant when he sprinkles the people, and the fact that God has spoken and these are His words. Shed blood and God’s Word are always at the centre of true worship of God. V 9–12: REVELATION God reveals Himself to Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and the seventy elders, as well as to Moses. He then tells them that on two tablets of stone He will give them the Ten Commandments, which He has written. V 13–14: RESPONSIBLE While Moses takes Joshua, his assistant and eventual successor, up the mountain, he leaves the elders to deal with any difficulties the people have, knowing that Aaron and Hur are there. He is responsible in making sure that things are dealt with properly while Joshua and he are away. V 15–18: REMAINING Moses goes up into the mountain cloud and the glory of the Lord rests on Mount Sinai for six days and His cloud covers it. On the seventh day, He calls to Moses out of the midst of the cloud and His glory is like a consuming fire visible to the Israelites below. Moses goes into the cloud and into the mountain, remaining there forty days and forty nights.