Exodus!! Lesson#9 GodReaffirmstheCovenant (Exodus(19:(1,25)((

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1 Exodus Lesson*#9* God*Reaffirms*the*Covenant * Exodus19:1,25)

2 Review InLesson#8theIsraelitesbegantheirjourneythroughthe wilderness,makingtheirwaytomt.sinai,themountainofgod, alongthewaypassingthroughthewildernessofshur,marah,elim, thewildernessofsinandrephidim. ThreedaysintothejourneytheIsraelitesbegancomplaining, murmuring: thewaterisbioer ; thefoodislousy ; there sno* water ; theamalekitesareaoacking Leadingthewhiningand complainingisraelites,mosesisangry,discouragedand overwhelmed. IneachinstanceGodcomestotherescue,notasacompassionate, empatheucandnurturinggod,butasatough,no,nonsensedrill instructorwhoseeveryacuonteachesthe childrenofisrael howto growup,takeresponsibilityandsurvive.

3 Preview InLesson#9theIsraelitesfinallyreachMt.Sinai,andthereGod reaffirmsthecovenanthemadewithabraham,isaacandjacob,saying: You*have*seen*how*I*treated*the*Egyp?ans*and*how*I*bore*you*up*on*eagles * wings*and*brought*you*to*myself.**now,*if*you*obey*me*completely*and*keep*my* covenant,*you*will*be*my*treasured*possession*among*all*peoples,*though*all* the*earth*is*mine.**you*will*be*to*me*a*kingdom*of*priests,*a*holy*na?on. Exodus19:4,6) Thepeoplerespond: Everything*the*Lord*has*said,*we*will*do *Exodus 19:8). InLesson#9weexaminethecovenantindepth,definingpreciselywhat thecovenantis;theobligauonsandprivilegesitimposesonboth parues,godandtheisraelites;andwhatconsequencesfollowfor meeung orbreaking thetermsofthecovenant.

4 Rameses" LandofGoshen Succoth" #ViaMaris #BiOerLakes #ExodusRoute "#Marah "#Elim "#Rephidim #Mt.Sinai

5 Mt.Sinai Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

6 On*the*third*new*moon*aOer*the*Israelites *departure*from* the*land*of*egypt,*on*the*first*day,*they*came*to*the* wilderness*of*sinai*.*.*.*they*then*pitched*camp*in*the* wilderness*.*.*.*[and]*moses*had*gone*up*to*the*mountain*of* God. * Exodus19:1,3) AliteraltranslaUonoftheHebrew, On*the*third*new*moon, *establishesthe toneandsetsthesceneatmt.sinai.thenewmoonisthe1 st phaseofthe moon,whenthemoonandthesunhavetheexactsameeclipucallongutude, makingthemooninvisible.inotherwords,asthesceneatmt.sinaiopensitis pitchblack,saveforthetwinklingofthestars.thesceneopensominousand heavy,ungedwithtension,fearandanucipauon. Moses hadgoneup tothemountainexpressesthepluperfecttense, suggesungthatmosesisclimbingthemountain,evenasthepeopleare pitchingcamp,heighteningthetensioninthestory.

7 You*have*seen*how*I*treated*the*Egyp?ans*and*how*I*bore*you*up*on* eagles *wings*and*brought*you*to*myself.**now,*if*you*obey*me* completely*and*keep*my*covenant,*[then]you*will*be*my*treasured* possession*among*all*peoples,*though*all*the*earth*is*mine.**you*will*be* to*me*a*kingdom*of*priests,*a*holy*na?on. * Exodus19:4,6) NoUcethe if/then clause.whengodreaffirmshiscovenantwiththe people,thecovenantiscondiuonedupontheisraelitesobeyinggod andkeepingthetermsofthecovenant. WhenGodstatesthat Israel*is*my*son,*my*firstborn 4:22)whomhe willnever*leave*or*forsake*deut.31:6),heismakinganuncondi?onal** statementaboutisrael sposi?on,relauvetogod;whenhereaffirms thecovenantinexodus19:4,6heismakingacondi?onal*statement aboutenjoyingtheprivileges*ofthatposiuon.

8 NoUcethe upanddown movement throughoutchapter19.godis up, Mosesandthepeopleare down. The Israelite sencounterwithgodatmt. Sinaiisthedecisivemomentinhuman historywhentheheavenlyandearthly realmsconverge.suchanepicmoment callsforgrandeurandsolemnity,as wellasaccompanyingcelesual pyrotechnicsanddeep,rollingthunder.

9 Atmidnight,Dr.Creasy sintrepidbandofstudentspreparetoclimbmt.sinai. Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

10 Dr.Creasyleadsthewayupthemountainintheblackofnight Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

11 UnlikeMoses,westophalfwayupforcoffeeandcookies,servedbytheBedouins Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

12 SunrisefromatopMt.Sinai. Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

13 EarlymorningonthemountainofGod. Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

14 Laterinthemorningwedescendthemountain upanddown, justlikemoses Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

15 JustwhatisthiscovenantthatGodrenews?

16 Recallthe AbrahamicCovenant atthe beginningofourstory: I*will*make*of*you*a*great* na?on,*and*i*will*bless*you;*i* will*make*your*name*great,*so* that*you*will*be*a*blessing.**i* will*bless*those*who*bless*you* and*curse*those*who*curse* you.**all*the*families*of*the* earth*will*find*blessing*in* you. * Genesis12:2,3)

17 The AbrahamicCovenant involves progeny*andproperty. ThewordoftheLordcametoAbram: * Look*up*at*the*sky*and*count*the*stars,* if*you*can.**just*so,*he*added,*will*your* descendants*be. * Genesis15:5)* To*your*descendants*I*give*this*land,* from*the*wadi*of*egypt*to*the*great* River,*the*Euphrates,*the*land*of*the* Kenites,*the*Kenizzites,*the*Kadmonites,* the*hi[tes,*the*perizzites,*the*rephaim,* the*amorites,*the*canaanites,*the* Girgashites,*and*the*Jebusites. * Genesis15:18)

18 GodthenreaffirmshiscovenantwithIsaac To*you*and*your*descendants*I*will*give* all*these*lands,*in*fulfillment*of*the*oath* that*i*swore*to*your*father*abraham.**i* will*make*your*descendants*as* numerous*as*the*stars*in*the*sky,*and*i* will*give*them*all*these*lands,*and*in* your*descendants*all*the*na?ons*of*the* earth*will*find*blessing. * Genesis26:3,4)*

19 AndhereaffirmsitwithJacob * I*am*the*Lord,*the*God*of*Abraham*your* father*and*the*god*of*isaac;*the*land*on* which*you*are*lying*i*will*give*to*you*and* your*descendants.**your*descendants* will*be*like*the*dust*of*the*earth,*and* through*them*you*will*spread*to*the* west*and*the*east,*to*the*north*and*the* south.**in*you*and*your*descendants*all* the*families*of*the*earth*will*find* blessing. * Genesis26:3,4)*

20 TheHebrewwordforcovenantisberith, meaningapact,treatyorbindinglegal agreementbetweentwoparues. AncientNearEasterncovenantswere commonplacebetweensovereignsand vassals,andtypicallytheyhada6,part standardizedform: 1. Preamble,orintroducUonofthespeaker; 2. Historicalprologue; 3. SUpulaUons; 4. Thedocument; 5. Thegodsaswitnesses;and 6. Blessingsandcurses. Onen,thecovenantinvolvedanimal sacrifice,sealingthecovenantwithblood.

21 TheTorahas*a*whole*GenesisthroughDeuteronomy)is thefullestexpressionofgod scovenantwiththeisraelites. The*oldest*surviving*complete*Torah*scroll,*carbon*dated*A.D.*1155* *1225.** University*of*Bologna,*Italy.*

22 Michelangelo, CreaUonoftheSun andthemoon, detailfresco), SisUneChapel,VaUcanCity. 1.Preamble beginning,*when*god*created*the* heavens*and*the*earth*.*.*.. AsthethreepanelsoftheGenesis triptychunfold,wecometoknow GodthroughhisinteracUonsinthe Abraham/Isaac,Isaac/Jacoband Jacob/Josephstories. StarUngwithGenesis1:1webegin tolearnwhogodis: In*the*

23 Preamble,cont. moveintoexodus. God sself,revelauonconunuesaswe WhenGodappearstoMosesatthe burningbushinchapter3andinstructs himtogobacktoegyptandfreethe Israelites,Mosesreplies: But*.*.*.*if*I*go* to*the*israelites*and*say*to*them,* The* God*of*your*ancestors*has*sent*me*to* you, *and*they*ask*me,* What*is*his* name? *what*do*i*tell*them? **Towhich Godreplies: I*am*who*I*am*.*.*.*this*is* what*you*will*tell*the*israelites:**i*am*has* sent*me*to*you. *** **

24 Preamble,cont. ThenatureofGod s IAM idenutyis thendramaucallyconfirmedinthe tenplagues,whicharedesignedtodo threethings: 1. TeachtheIsraeliteswhoGodis10:2); 2. TeachtheEgypUanswhoGodis7:3,5); 3. BringjudgmentonthegodsofEgypt12: 12). * **

25 Preamble,cont. InthegreattheophanyofExodus19, GodgatherstheIsraelitestogetherat thefootofmt.sinaiand anera frighteningdisplayofhispower, completewithflashingfireandrolling thunder GodspeakstotheIsraelites audibly. Deuteronomy4:33notes: Did*a*people* ever*hear*the*voice*of*god*speaking*from*the* midst*of*fire,*as*you*did,*and*live? ). *

26 2.HistoricalPrologue RemindingtheIsraelitesthatheis thegodoftheirancestors, Abraham,IsaacandJacobandin doingsorecallingforwereaders theenurebookofgenesis),god summarizestherecentpastof Exodus1,18: You*have*seen*how*I* treated*the*egyp?ans*and*how*i* bore*you*on*eagles *wings*and* brought*you*to*myself*.*.*. **19:4).

27 3.SUpulaUons Then*God*spoke*all*these* words*.*.*. *20:1,17). The TenCommandments or Decalogue aretenprinciplesby whichacovenantpeopleistolive withgodandoneanother.the firstfourprincipleshavetodowith theisraelites relauonshipwith God;thelastsix,theirrelaUonship withoneanother.

28 4.TheDocument Exodus21:1throughLeviUcus27:34 containthedetails*ofthecovenant: 1. Howtoapplythetenprinciplesin specificcasesexodus21:1 24:18); 2. ThedesignandconstrucUonofthe Tabernacle25:1 40:38); 3. Fivegreatsacrificestobeofferedatthe Tabernacle,fourofwhichareblood sacrificesleviucus1:1,7:38); 4. TheLeviUcalpriesthood8:1 10:20); 5. Lawsofpurity11:1 22:33);and 6. SacredUme holydays ).

29 5.Thegodsaswitnesses Whenyouhavechildrenand children schildren,andhave grownoldintheland,should youthenactcorruptlyby fashioninganidolintheformof anything,andbythisevildonein hissightprovokethelord,your God,I*call*heaven*and*earth*this* day*to*witness*against*you,that youshallquicklyperishfromthe land... * * * * *Deuteronomy4:26)

30 6.BlessingsandCurses Now,ifyoudiligentlyobeythevoiceofthe Lord,yourGod,carefullyobservingallhis commandmentswhichigiveyoutoday,the Lord,yourGod,willsetyouhighaboveallthe nauonsoftheearth.alltheseblessingswill comeuponyouandoverwhelmyouwhenyou obeythevoiceofthelordyourgod: Mayyoubeblessedinthecity, andblessedinthecountry Blessedbethefruitofyourwomb, theproduceofyoursoil andtheoffspringofyourlivestock, theissueofyourherdsandtheyoungofyourflocks Blessedbeyourgrainbasketandyourkneadingbowl Mayyoubeblessedinyourcomingin andblessedinyourgoingout Deuteronomy28:1,6)

31 6.BlessingsandCurses ButifyoudonotobeythevoiceoftheLord, yourgod,carefullyobservingallhis commandmentsandstatuteswhichigiveyou today,allthesecursesshallcomeuponyouand overwhelmyou: Mayyoubecursedinthecity, andcursedinthecountry Cursedbeyourgrainbasketandyourkneadingbowl Cursedbethefruitofyourwomb, theproduceofyoursoil andtheoffspringofyourlivestock, theissueofyourherdsandtheyoungofyourflocks Mayyoubecursedinyourcomingin andcursedinyourgoingout Deuteronomy28:15,19)

32 QuesUonsfordiscussionandthought ** 1. Howdoesourauthorsetthestageforthegreatand terrifyingtheophanyofexodus19? 2. Howdoyoudefine covenant? 3. ThecovenantGodmakeswithAbrahaminGenesis 12isuncondi?onal;thecovenantGodreaffirmsin Exodus19iscondi?onal.Whatisthedifference? 4. WhydoesGodtelltheIsraelitestostayawayfrom themountainandnottouchit? 5. WhateffectdoesthetheophanyatMt.Sinaiproduce ontheisraelites?

33 Copyright 2014byWilliamC.Creasy All rights reserved. No part of this course audio, video, photography, maps, Umelines or other media may be reproducedortransmioedinanyformbyanymeans,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any informauon storage or retrieval devices without permission in wriungoralicensingagreementfromthecopyrightholder.

Exodus!! Lesson#7 TheExodus (Exodus(12:(36( (15:(21)((

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