SHCOC Daily Bible Reading

In Genesis 15:10, we learn that God makes a specific kind of covenant, which is the blood covenant. Here we see the first blood-sacrifice covenant. A blood sacrifice is needed to establish a covenant. The covenant parties would pass between the halves indicating that they were irrevocably bound together in blood. The cutting in halves of the sacrifice spoke of the end of existing lives for the sake of establishing a new covenant. The sacred nature of this covenant was attested to by the shedding of lifeblood. In this instance, only God passed between the pieces, indicating that it was His covenant and He would assume responsibility for its administration.

In Leviticus 17:11 we learn of the power of the blood. Scripture clearly points out, “It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins (John 1:29). The truth that God is a covenant-maker who restores us to a right relationship with Him through the blood of the covenant. The Bible teaches that man and God can only come together through the blood of the covenant, which culminates in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—the blood of the Lamb.

In chapter 24 of Exodus, Moses and others are invited to “come up to the Lord…and worship from afar.” Then Moses would go farther up the mountain and to be near God. What an image of worship. The people would not be allowed to go near but they would wait and watch from a distance (Exodus 24:1-2). Before Moses went up the mountain, he told the people all the words of the Lord and they all agreed with one voice that they would obey God’s word (Exodus 24:3) and a covenant or agreement between God and the people was put in place. Moses took some sacrificial blood and threw it on the people and I am sure some were upset that they got their “Sunday go to meeting” clothes stained. Moses, said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Jesus uses these words in Matthew 26:28 and Mark 14:24. So, we see that our Christian roots are tied to a blood covenant. This worship continues as Moses goes to the top of the mountain and is told to wait (Exodus 24:12) while God gives him their law and commandments for their instruction.

May we worship by God’s instruction and through the blood of Christ!