Exodus really shows both the ‘otherness’ and the ‘nearness’ of God.
Leading up to this was the ratification of the covenant God was going to have with His people. To signify agreement on a covenant, the parties would often share a meal.
But this is the Lord, so you expect things to be different, especially some of the ‘fellowship’ stuff.
The people dedicated themselves to the Lord and promised to obey His commands. And then the most interesting thing happened…
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank. - Exodus 24:9-11 (ESV)
These men saw God! They actually saw Him! And then, in His presence, they ate and drank.
2 comments:
That's a crazy passage. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on it.
Exodus 33:20 - for no one shall see Me and live.
That verse makes Exodus 24:11 all the more interesting. I am reading Piper's book, God is Gospel. He makes the comment:
"...gazing on God in the OT was mediated. There is something in between."
I do not know what to make of the "sapphire stone like pavement under God's feet," but there must be something that is withheld or shielded from these men. But they were able to behold the Lord, and this point must not be lost.
When they got God's grace, they got fellowship with Him.
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