In the Wilderness: Exodus 24:1-25:9

God confirms His covenant in Exodus 24:1-25:9. (Click on the link to read these words.)

 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

 Exodus 24:8

God makes a covenant and I hear the echo of words we hear on the first Sunday of every month.

When the supper was over, he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

--Service of Word and Table, The United Methodist Hymnal

Moses and his people sacrificed young bulls to confirm the covenant God made. Blood splattered on them covered their sin, and made a way for the leaders to come and fellowship with God.

But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Exodus 24:11

God made a New Covenant with us through the blood of sacrifice. Only it wasn't a bull or ram... it was a man. His very own Son. Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb and we drink the blood from His cup. It covers our sin and makes a way for us to come and fellowship with God.

God's people continued to make animal sacrifices for atonement until the final price was paid. It hung nailed to a cross bleeding and broken all for you and me. What kind of God is this? There is none other like Him. No other God who would limit His deity to hang and suffer on a tree just to be with us. This is the God we serve... the Good News we share. Amen and amen!

Lord, You made a way through blood to restore us to relationship with You.

Help me to understand You more fully and this radical love You have for

Your creatures and what it means to me.