Exodus!!

Lesson*#9*“God*Reaffirms*the*Covenant”*

(Exodus(19:(1,25)((

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In(Lesson(#8(the(Israelites(began(their(journey(through(the(wilderness,(making(their(way(to(Mt.(Sinai,(the(mountain(of(God,(along(the(way(passing(through(the(wilderness(of(Shur,(Marah,(Elim,(the(wilderness(of(Sin(and(Rephidim.((

Three(days(into(the(journey(the(Israelites(began(complaining,(murmuring:((“the(water(is(biOer”;(“the(food(is(lousy”;(“there’s(no*water”;(“the(Amalekites(are(aOacking!”((Leading(the(whining(and(complaining(Israelites,(Moses(is(angry,(discouraged(and(overwhelmed.((

In(each(instance(God(comes(to(the(rescue,(not(as(a(compassionate,(empatheUc(and(nurturing(God,(but(as(a(tough,(no,nonsense(drill(instructor(whose(every(acUon(teaches(the(“children(of(Israel”(how(to(grow(up,(take(responsibility(and(survive.((((((

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In(Lesson(#9(the(Israelites(finally(reach(Mt.(Sinai,(and(there(God(reaffirms(the(covenant(he(made(with(Abraham,(Isaac(and(Jacob,(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.(

( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((Exodus(19:(4,6)(The(people(respond:((“Everything*the*Lord*has*said,*we*will*do”*(Exodus(19:8).((

In(Lesson(#9(we(examine(the(covenant(in(depth,(defining(precisely(what(the(covenant(is;(the(obligaUons(and(privileges(it(imposes(on(both(parUes,(God(and(the(Israelites;(and(what(consequences(follow(for(meeUng—or(breaking—the(terms(of(the(covenant.(((((((((((

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Land(of(Goshen(Rameses(!"(

Succoth(!"(

"(#(Marah(

"(#(Elim(

#(Mt.(Sinai(

"(#(Rephidim(

#(BiOer(Lakes(

#(Via(Maris(

#(Exodus(Route(

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Mt.(Sinai((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

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“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.”*

( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((Exodus(19:(1,3)(A(literal(translaUon(of(the(Hebrew,(“On*the*third*new*moon,”*establishes(the(tone(and(sets(the(scene(at(Mt.(Sinai.((The(new(moon(is(the(1st(phase(of(the(moon,(when(the(moon(and(the(sun(have(the(exact(same(eclipUcal(longUtude,(making(the(moon(invisible.((In(other(words,(as(the(scene(at(Mt.(Sinai(opens(it(is(pitch(black,(save(for(the(twinkling(of(the(stars.((The(scene(opens(ominous(and(heavy,(Unged(with(tension,(fear(and(anUcipaUon.((

Moses(“had(gone(up”(to(the(mountain(expresses(the(pluperfect(tense,(suggesUng(that(Moses(is(climbing(the(mountain,(even(as(the(people(are(pitching(camp,(heightening(the(tension(in(the(story.(

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“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.”*

( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ((Exodus(19:(4,6)((

NoUce(the(“if/then”(clause.((When(God(reaffirms(his(covenant(with(the(people,(the(covenant(is(condiUoned(upon(the(Israelites(obeying(God(and(keeping(the(terms(of(the(covenant.((

When(God(states(that(“Israel*is*my*son,*my*firstborn”((4:(22)(whom(he(will(never*leave*or*forsake*(Deut.(31:(6),(he(is(making(an(uncondi?onal**statement(about(Israel’s(posi?on,(relaUve(to(God;(when(he(reaffirms(the(covenant(in(Exodus(19:(4,6(he(is(making(a(condi?onal*statement(about(enjoying(the(privileges*of(that(posiUon.((

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(!(NoUce(the(“up(and(down”(movement(throughout(Chapter(19.((God(is(“up,”(Moses(and(the(people(are(“down.”((The(Israelite’s(encounter(with(God(at(Mt.(Sinai(is(the(decisive(moment(in(human(history(when(the(heavenly(and(earthly(realms(converge.((Such(an(epic(moment(calls(for(grandeur(and(solemnity,(as(well(as(accompanying(celesUal(pyrotechnics(and(deep,(rolling(thunder.(!

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At(midnight,(Dr.(Creasy’s(intrepid(band(of(students(prepare(to(climb(Mt.(Sinai.((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

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Dr.(Creasy(leads(the(way(up(the(mountain(in(the(black(of(night!((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

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Unlike(Moses,(we(stop(halfway(up(for(coffee(and(cookies,(served(by(the(Bedouins!((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

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Sunrise(from(atop(Mt.(Sinai.((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

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Early(morning(on(the(mountain(of(God.((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

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Later(in(the(morning(we(descend(the(mountain—“up(and(down,”(just(like(Moses!((((((((

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Photography*by*Ana*Maria*Vargas*

Just(what(is(this(covenant(that(God(renews?(

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Recall(the(“Abrahamic(Covenant”(at(the(beginning(of(our(story:(

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“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.”*

( ( ((Genesis(12:(2,3)(

The(“Abrahamic(Covenant”(involves((progeny*and(property.(

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The(word(of(the(Lord(came(to(Abram:(*

“Look*up*at*the*sky*and*count*the*stars,*if*you*can.**Just*so,*he*added,*will*your*descendants*be.”*

( ( ( ( ((Genesis(15:(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.”*

( ( ( ( ((Genesis(15:(18)(( ( ( ( ((

God(then(reaffirms(his(covenant(with(Isaac(

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“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.”*

( ( ( ( ((Genesis(26:(3,4)*(

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And(he(reaffirms(it(with(Jacob((

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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.”*

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The(Hebrew(word(for(covenant(is(berith,(meaning(a(pact,(treaty(or(binding(legal(agreement(between(two(parUes.((((

Ancient(Near(Eastern(covenants(were(commonplace(between(sovereigns(and(vassals,(and(typically(they(had(a(6,part(standardized(form:((

1.   Preamble,(or(introducUon(of(the(speaker;(2.   Historical(prologue;(3.   SUpulaUons;(4.   The(document;(5.   The(gods(as(witnesses;(and(6.   Blessings(and(curses.((

Onen,(the(covenant(involved(animal(sacrifice,(sealing(the(covenant(with(blood.(

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The(Torah(as*a*whole*(Genesis(through(Deuteronomy)(is(the(fullest(expression(of(God’s(covenant(with(the(Israelites.((

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The*oldest*surviving*complete*Torah*scroll,*carbon*dated*A.D.*1155*–*1225.**University*of*Bologna,*Italy.*

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Michelangelo,(“CreaUon(of(the(Sun(and(the(Moon,”(detail((fresco),(

1512.(((SisUne(Chapel,(VaUcan(City.(

1.((Preamble((

StarUng(with(Genesis(1:(1(we(begin(to(learn(who(God(is:((“In*the*beginning,*when*God*created*the*heavens*and*the*earth*.*.*..”((((

As(the(three(panels(of(the(Genesis(triptych(unfold,(we(come(to(know(God(through(his(interacUons(in(the(Abraham/Isaac,(Isaac/Jacob(and(Jacob/Joseph(stories.((((!!

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(Preamble,(cont.((

(God’s(self,revelaUon(conUnues(as(we(move(into(Exodus.((((

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(When(God(appears(to(Moses(at(the(burning(bush(in(Chapter(3(and(instructs(him(to(go(back(to(Egypt(and(free(the(Israelites,(Moses(replies:((“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?”**To(which(God(replies:((“I*am*who*I*am*.*.*.*this*is*what*you*will*tell*the*Israelites:**I*AM*has*sent*me*to*you.”*****

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(Preamble,(cont.((

(The(nature(of(God’s(“I(AM”(idenUty(is(then(dramaUcally(confirmed(in(the(ten(plagues,(which(are(designed(to(do(three(things:(

((1. (Teach(the(Israelites(who(God(is((10:(2);((2. (Teach(the(EgypUans(who(God(is((7:(3,5);((3. ((Bring(judgment(on(the(gods(of(Egypt((12:(12).(((

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(Preamble,(cont.((

(In(the(great(theophany(of(Exodus(19,(God(gathers(the(Israelites(together(at(the(foot(of(Mt.(Sinai(and—aner(a(frightening(display(of(his(power,(complete(with(flashing(fire(and(rolling(thunder—God(speaks(to(the(Israelites(audibly.((

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((Deuteronomy(4:(33(notes:((“Did*a*people*ever*hear*the*voice*of*God*speaking*from*the*midst*of*fire,*as*you*did,*and*live?”). ((

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2.((Historical(Prologue((

Reminding(the(Israelites(that(he(is(the(God(of(their(ancestors,(Abraham,(Isaac(and(Jacob((and(in(doing(so(recalling(for(we(readers(the(enUre(book(of(Genesis),(God(summarizes(the(recent(past(of(Exodus(1,18:((“You*have*seen*how*I*treated*the*Egyp?ans*and*how*I*bore*you*on*eagles’*wings*and*brought*you*to*myself*.*.*.”**(19:(4).((((((!!

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3.((SUpulaUons((

“Then*God*spoke*all*these*words*.*.*.”*(20:(1,17).((

The(“Ten(Commandments”(or(“Decalogue”(are(ten(principles(by(which(a(covenant(people(is(to(live(with(God(and(one(another.((The(first(four(principles(have(to(do(with(the(Israelites’(relaUonship(with(God;(the(last(six,(their(relaUonship(with(one(another.(((((!!

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4.((The(Document((

Exodus(21:(1(through(LeviUcus(27:(34(contain(the(details*of(the(covenant:((

1.   How(to(apply(the(ten(principles(in(specific(cases((Exodus(21:(1(–(24:(18);(

2.   The(design(and(construcUon(of(the(Tabernacle((25:(1(–(40:(38);(

3.   Five(great(sacrifices(to(be(offered(at(the(Tabernacle,(four(of(which(are(blood(sacrifices((LeviUcus(1:(1(,7:(38);(

4.   The(LeviUcal(priesthood(((8:(1(–(10:(20);(5.   Laws(of(purity((11:(1(–(22:(33);(and(6.   Sacred(Ume((“holy(days”).(

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5.((The(gods(as(witnesses((

(“When(you(have(children(and(children’s(children,(and(have(grown(old(in(the(land,(should(you(then(act(corruptly(by(fashioning(an(idol(in(the(form(of(anything,(and(by(this(evil(done(in(his(sight(provoke(the(Lord,(your(God,(I*call*heaven*and*earth*this*day*to*witness*against*you,(that(you(shall(quickly(perish(from(the(land(.(.(.”(

* * * * *(Deuteronomy(4:(26)(((((((!!

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6.((Blessings(and(Curses((

(Now,(if(you(diligently(obey(the(voice(of(the(Lord,(your(God,(carefully(observing(all(his(commandments(which(I(give(you(today,(the(Lord,(your(God,(will(set(you(high(above(all(the(naUons(of(the(earth.((All(these(blessings(will(come(upon(you(and(overwhelm(you(when(you(obey(the(voice(of(the(Lord(your(God:(

(

(May(you(be(blessed(in(the(city,(((and(blessed(in(the(country!((Blessed(be(the(fruit(of(your(womb,((the(produce(of(your(soil((and(the(offspring(of(your(livestock,((the(issue(of(your(herds(and(the(young(of(your(flocks!((Blessed(be(your(grain(basket(and(your(kneading(bowl!((May(you(be(blessed(in(your(coming(in((and(blessed(in(your(going(out!(( ( ( ( ((Deuteronomy(28:(1,6)(

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6.((Blessings(and(Curses((

(But(if(you(do(not(obey(the(voice(of(the(Lord,(your(God,(carefully(observing(all(his(commandments(and(statutes(which(I(give(you(today,(all(these(curses(shall(come(upon(you(and(overwhelm(you:(

(

(May(you(be(cursed(in(the(city,(((and(cursed(in(the(country!((Cursed(be(your(grain(basket(and(your(kneading(bowl!((Cursed(be(the(fruit(of(your(womb,((the(produce(of(your(soil((and(the(offspring(of(your(livestock,((the(issue(of(your(herds(and(the(young(of(your(flocks!((May(you(be(cursed(in(your(coming(in((and(cursed(in(your(going(out!(( ( ( ( ((Deuteronomy(28:(15,19)(

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QuesUons(for(discussion(and(thought(**

1.   How(does(our(author(set(the(stage(for(the(great(and(terrifying(theophany(of(Exodus(19?(((

2.   How(do(you(define(“covenant”?(3.   The(covenant(God(makes(with(Abraham(in(Genesis(

12(is(uncondi?onal;(the(covenant(God(reaffirms(in(Exodus(19(is(condi?onal.((What(is(the(difference?(

4.   Why(does(God(tell(the(Israelites(to(stay(away(from(the(mountain(and(not(touch(it?(

5.   What(effect(does(the(theophany(at(Mt.(Sinai(produce(on(the(Israelites?(((

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Copyright(©(2014(by(William(C.(Creasy(( All( rights( reserved.( No( part( of( this( course—audio,( video,(photography,( maps,( Umelines( or( other( media—may( be(reproduced(or(transmiOed(in(any(form(by(any(means,(electronic(or( mechanical,( including( photocopying,( recording( or( by( any(informaUon( storage( or( retrieval( devices( without( permission( in(wriUng(or(a(licensing(agreement(from(the(copyright(holder.(

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