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Sinai Teaching

Exodus 19:1-25

We’re going to continue in our study of the Covenants.

Turn to Exodus 19.

I’ve asked certain individuals to read for us this morning.

Exodus 19:1-8 Jim

Exodus 19:9-15 Lauren

Exodus 19:16-22 Garrett

Exodus 19:23-25 Kerry

This morning I want us to understand that In all contracts there are rules or statues that that need to be followed.

The Old Testament is a place where we see rules that God’s people must follow.

Some of those rules are the Ten Commandments.

But if we only see rules, we miss the larger relationship that is being presented in the God of the Bible.

Many will think of the Sinai or Mosaic Covenant at the 10 Commandments.

It is not.

The 10 Commandments are a result of the covenant.

I want each of us to look at this beautiful Covenant God made with His people:

-The Promise: God and Israel will enjoy a unique relationship

-The Condition: Israel's obedience in keeping the Covenant

-The Consequence: Israel would forfeit God's blessings if disobedient

(Additional References: Ex 19:1–24:8, Ex 34:10, Ga 4:24–25, Heb 9:1, and Heb 9:18–21)

Let’s start in the promise:

God rescued the Hebrew people from their bondage in Egypt.

God called Moses to go up to Mount Sinai so he could create a covenant with the Hebrew people.

“There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God.

The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel’”

In the Mosaic covenant, the sacrificial system and the law are given to God’s people.

“The unique feature of the Mosaic covenant was the Law, summarized in the Ten Commandments (Exod.

20:10–17).

By promulgating the Law, God established Israel as a distinct people and nation, existing under His own theocratic rule.

God promised Israel that they would be His special possession, His ‘holy nation,’ and the Lord promised to be their God (cp.

Exod.

19:5–6; 20:2).

Side note, the Hebrew Word for possession is “segullah” which means special possession or treasure.

It is used only once in Exodus and a total of only 7 other instances in the entire OT.

God’s love for Israel was beyond a simple relationship, this covenant would make them His Treasure, His priceless Treasure.

Next is the condition:

This promise was conditioned on Israel’s obedience to the Law.

God’s grace singled out Israel as the recipient of this covenant (Deut.

7:7), but they were warned that the temporal blessings promised would be theirs only if they kept his commandments (Deut.

7:12–26; 28:1–14).

Finally, is the Consequences:

Failure to keep God’s commandments would result in calamitous curses including being ‘divorced’ by God and no longer being His special people

Turn to Deut 28, verse 15

Let’s look at the consequences of breaking this Covenant.

“The Sinai Covenant” was “the covenant established between God and Israel at Mt Sinai.”

It “is the focal point of the covenant tradition in the OT.

It was anticipated in the covenant of Abraham and lay behind the covenant of David and the proclamation of the prophets.

It was central to OT religion, laying down the foundations of Judaism which continue into the modern world.

The Sinai covenant was the formal institution of a relationship between God and his chosen people, Israel”

There was eventually a renewal of the Sinai covenant in Deuteronomy.

Sometimes we might view the Mosaic covenant as a contract where when the godly person follows the rules, God rewards them.

Think of the phrase quid pro quo.

This phrase means “something given or received for something else.”

Sometimes we view our Christian walk in this way.

We do something nice, and we feel God is obligated to do something in return.

But it is impossible to quid pro quo God.

We can never equal his blessings or love.

Just as the Noahic and Abrahamic covenants did not fully fulfill God’s plans, neither did the Mosaic covenant.

They pointed ahead to God’s coming new covenant.

As we close this morning’s study, what can you glean…personally to apply, from this Covenant?

Close in Prayer