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Exodus 24 “A Glimpse of the Kingdom of God”

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5–7 minutes

Exodus 24 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

Explanation:

At first, God told Moses to bring the Israelites to Mount Sinai, but not to cross the boundary line (Exodus 19:12). Now, God commands, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel” (v.1), allowing them to cross that boundary and come closer. The rest of the people must remain outside the boundary. Then, God calls Moses alone to come even nearer to Him (v.2).

After hearing all the words of the Lord, Moses descends the mountain and delivers “the Lord’s words and laws” (v.3) to the waiting people, who respond that they will obey everything. Moses then writes down all of God’s words late into the night. The next morning, he builds an altar and sets up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. He offers sacrifices (vv.4–5), and after slaughtering oxen, he sprinkles half of the blood on the altar and collects the other half in bowls (v.6).

Then he reads from the “Book of the Covenant,” which he had written during the night, to the people (v.7). When the people pledge to obey all that God has spoken, Moses sprinkles the remaining blood on them, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words” (v.8). In the Bible, blood symbolizes life. A covenant sealed with blood carries a weighty and solemn significance.

Then, as God commanded, Moses ascended the mountain again with Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel (v.9). Nadab and Abihu are Aaron’s two sons. The phrase, “there they saw the God of Israel” (v.10), suggests that they experienced something similar to what Peter, James, and John witnessed on the Mount of Transfiguration. God revealed Himself to them in a special way. The description, “under His feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself” (v. 10), means that the hidden Kingdom of God was briefly revealed to them.

The phrase, “they saw God, and they ate and drank” (v.11), signifies that they momentarily experienced what life in the Kingdom of God is like. God then calls Moses to come further up to receive the tablets of stone inscribed with the law and commandments (v.12). Moses entrusts leadership to Aaron and Hur and goes up with Joshua (vv.13–14). As Moses and Joshua ascend, a cloud covers the mountain, and on the seventh day, the Lord calls out to Moses (vv.15–16). This means Moses waited in silence for six days, listening for God’s voice. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, it looked as if fire was blazing on the mountaintop (v.17). Moses then enters the cloud, reaches the summit, and remains there for forty days (v.18).

Meditation:

As we read today’s passage, we are reminded of several powerful biblical moments: Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain (Matthew 17:1–8), the Apostle Paul’s experience of the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1–4), and the visions of the Apostle John (Revelation 1:10–20; 4:1–6). The common thread in all these accounts is that the Kingdom of God—ordinarily hidden from our eyes—was briefly revealed.

The Kingdom of God is not located far off in some distant part of the universe; it is among us, and we are already living within it. However, because we are physical beings, the spiritual dimension of God’s Kingdom seems hidden from us. As a result, many people do not acknowledge its existence. They believe only in what is material and visible. However, as physical beings, we cannot attain or grasp the Kingdom of God through our own efforts. We can only see it “briefly” and “in part” when God chooses to reveal it to us.

God reveals His presence in this way according to His sovereign will. It does not happen just because we desire it. God acts when He deems it necessary. These experiences are not bestowed upon everyone, and those who receive them are no more special than others. It is solely because God, in His authority, chooses to grant such experiences. If someone has received the special grace of seeing and hearing the Kingdom of God, they must remain humble. And for those who have not, there is no reason to be discouraged.

The reason God works in this way is to teach us to acknowledge and live in the reality of His Kingdom even when we do not feel it. It is a call to remember that God is present even when He feels absent. That is why Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This is the central focus of our daily spiritual life—to live by faith, not by sight.

Prayer:

Lord, we often say we want to see You, even though we do not truly understand who You are. We say we want to see Your Kingdom, even as we live every day under Your rule. Oh Lord, have mercy on our foolishness. Purify our hearts so that we may continually live in the joy of Your reign. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: God sometimes allows people to experience His Kingdom in a special way, but even when we cannot see or feel Him, He is still with us. Living by faith means trusting in God’s presence and rule, even when it is hidden from our eyes.

  • For Preschool-Elementary
    • Have you ever felt really close to God, like He was near you? What was that like?
    • Why do you think God sometimes stays hidden even though He is always with us?
    • What are some ways we can remember that God is with us every day, even when we can’t see Him?
  • For Youth
    • The Bible tells us that some people got to see a glimpse of God’s Kingdom. What do you think that experience felt like for them?
    • Jesus said that people who believe without seeing are blessed (John 20:29). What does that kind of faith look like in your everyday life?
    • When have you had to trust that God was with you, even though you didn’t feel it? How did that shape your faith?

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