SCRIPTURE BY OLIVIA HARGRAVE
Exodus 19: 1-6; 24: 3-8
Relates Scriptures: Deuteronomy 5:22-29, Joshua 24: 14-24, Jeremiah 7:21-29, Haggai 1:1-15
In the lesson text scriptures, Exodus 19:1-6 ; 24: 3-8, we see and are familiar with the bondage and oppression of the children of Israel. For years they cried out and at the right time God answered them as He does with us. In Deuteronomy 5:22-29, God spoke to the people as they stood at the foot of the mountain. As he addressed them he reminded them that as they exited Egypt, their old ways and old thinking should exit as well. The people became afraid not because of what God was saying and putting in place, but more of His presence, as they agreed to the terms and conditions.
In Joshua 24: 14-24, the children of Israel are reminded of the covenant that they agreed to but did not fulfill. After God gives us instruction and direction for our good, we have a responsibility to react. God through Joshua reminds us all that bondage will have boundaries, but with obedience we are free to rest and reside in His care. It is no secret that God places choices before us and reminds us anything other than Him will come to an end. We want to invite God to come and dwell within us.
The prophet Jeremiah in chapter 7:21-29 challenges us in a way that some of us don’t want to confront. The Lord makes it clear that the idea of sacrifices and offerings were meaningless because obedience wasn’t attached to it. God is directly addressing this in Jeremiah 7:23. “ Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and ALL will be well.” God is continually speaking and we are to take heed and obey.
SYNOPSIS BY DEBORAH HILLMAN
This week’s lesson tells us of the Israelites going forth from Egypt to the wilderness in Mt. Sinai, where they pitched their tents at the bottom of the mountain as Moses went up to hear from God. Once in the presence of God, Moses was given detailed instructions as to what God expected from the Israelites, which was simply to obey the covenant and promises given to Moses. As Moses climbed the mountain, God called out to him saying he would be his spokesman to the people. God first told Moses to review with the people all He had done in releasing them from bondage. They were to remember the times of deliverance; the ten plagues upon the Egyptians to force Pharaoh to let the slaves go, the parting of the Red Sea, releasing the water to drown all those in pursuit of the Israelites, and the victory over the Amalekites.
Moses then went back up the mountain bringing his brother Aaron, Nadab, Abilhu and seventy elders of Israel. But only Moses could speak with God and was given all the judgements, ordinances and commands designed to govern the lives of God’s people. The people wholeheartedly agreed to obey all that Moses was given from God.
Moses then built an altar to God where the people could give sacrifice unto the Lord God. Israel verbally agreed to a covenant but specific things were needed to confirm their covenant with God. The word of God must be written. The covenant was only made in context of sacrifice, and was made when God’s word is heard and responded to. The covenant was made with application of the blood, then the covenant was sealed. This was a foreshadow of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for us!!
PRACTICAL APPLICATION BY LECHA PRICE
In today’s lesson we see the Israelites agree to obey God in His promises and new covenant. The practical application reminds us that when God speaks to us, He expects us, as His children, to obey Him. The children of Israel were about two months into their journey with God when He established His covenant with them. God wanted them to know and understand just as He provided a way of escape for them from Egypt, He was equally committed to keeping them through their wilderness journey. Their part in the covenant was to obey God’s commands.
Likewise, when God saves us as His children, He also calls us into a covenant of obedience. God desires that we experience great victory in our life’s journey with Him. After all, He came that we would have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b) However, in order for us to experience the abundant life in Him, it requires that our hearts be fully submitted and obedient to Him. Isaiah 1:19 states when we are willing and obedient, we shall eat the good of the land.
God is bound to the covenant of His word, and He takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people. Obedience brings us into an intimate relationship with the Father. To obey Him is to experience Him, to experience Him is to know Him, and to know Him is to love Him. As God’s people, let us commit to obeying and serving Him with all our heart so that we may know Him and receive all the prosperity He has for us.
