Friday, April 19: “Covenant Requires Change”

Exodus 24: 8, 9, 11b: “So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, ‘Behold the blood of the Covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel … and they saw God, and they ate and drank.”

Imagine–after all Israel entered Covenant with the Lord, these seventy-three chosen men ate and drank in His presence! Truly Covenant is God extending His hands to mankind! Entry into the Promised Land was assured! But of all those seventy-three, most–not even Moses–ever made it. Nadab and Abihu never even left Sinai; due to their presumption, the Lord’s fire consumed them before the altar (Leviticus 10: 1, 2). This is because Covenant requires change–not from God, but from us–a change that responds to the Covenant He offers. This, we must never forget.