The Book of the Covenant (20:22 – 23:19)
It is not my intention to look at this section of Exodus in any detail at all. Rather, the plan is to pick up Exodus again at 23:20. However, it cannot be ignored entirely and it is important that at least some observations are made about it. That I will do.
The section spans from 20:22 to 23:19 and is known as the 'Book of the Covenant', a title it gets from Exodus 24:7.
1. Context: The laws found in the Book of the Covenant apply to a particular people at a particular point in history, specifically to God’s redeemed people who are about to enter the Promised Land to be a shining example to the gentile nations of the world.
2. Content: Therefore, the laws concern themselves primarily with two major themes:
i: The Worship of Yahweh, and
ii: Social Responsibility, one Israelite to another.
As in the Decalogue, the pattern of life is to be proper relationship, first with God, then with others. THis is no different under the New Testament covenant:
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
“And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” (2 John 1:5-6)
3. Land and Ownership: The laws assume the precondition of a nation people settled in a land and many have a strong element of ownership. Possession has already been established as a theme in the Ten Commandments.
4. Antithesis: All these laws are aimed at ensuring God’s people do not behave like the Egyptians who abused their ownership of the Israelites and oppressed them. God’s people are to show proper respect for others and deliver justice based on Godly morality.
5. Sacred and Secular: No division is allowed for God’s people between the secular and sacred parts of life. Like us, they are to be God’s person twenty-four hours a day.
Having said the Book of the Covenenat is for a sepcific nation at a specific time, the principles on which the laws are based are universal and so there are some obvious principles for the Christian believer to be found in them. I'm sure you have already begun to assess that very thing and would encourage you to continue your contemplation. However, right now, I propose to pick up the text in detail again at 23:20:
"The Deuteronomic Promise" (23:20-33)
A brief reading of the text will bring to light some major strands of thought central to this passage. These are:
· Taking and Settling of the land – verses 21, 23, 27-33
· Worship – verses 21, 24-25, 32-33
· Obedience – verses 21-22, 24-25, 32-33
All three elements are closely tied together. The community that God is taking to fill his land are a worshipping community and express that worship in obedience. How we should long for modern church people to realise that worship is exactly that - essentially an obedient life of commitment to God - rather than their singing activities. That is actually but a small part of the life of worship.
Depending on the translation you are looking at, you will notice that the phrase "I will..." is repeated eleven times as God speaks. Now we know that the prime actors in this phase of the journey is God, and also his angel who we will consider in a minute.
Let's notice in passing that this section contains blessings and curses, a feature that was always prevalent at the end of an ancient contract, similar to the penalty clauses in modern business contract. We might think of Deuteronomy 28 as the main passage on blessings and curses, but it is here and also in Leviticus 26 too.
The success of any venture often swings on expectations. If people expect an easy ride and then discover great difficulties then they are prone to give up at an early hurdle. God is quite forthright about the journey he will lead them on and so their expectations should be realistic - there will be difficulties.
· They will have enemies (23,28)
· It won’t be a simple and easy victory: there will be temptations of idolatry (24,33)
· There will be military opposition (22)
· God’s angel will lead and do most of the work (27-28)
· The taking of the land will be gradual rather than immediate (29-33)
With that in mind, how might we apply the taking of the land and the elements involved in it in a spiritual way to our Christian lives? Well, in two respects I think, and they are these.
1: Evangelism – taking the human landscape for Jesus.
2: Sanctification – taking the human heart for Jesus.
Both processes are gradual and difficult in places and we must learn patience and persistence. However, it is also God’s initiative and we do not face our spiritual futures alone. The trick is to keep focused on God through Jesus and follow him with great trust.
For the Israelites the proposed borders of the Promised Land are not really ever realised, only briefly under the kingship of David and Solomon. As always, taking the principle of Hebrews chapter 11, we should realise that there is a greater fulfilment of this promise to come, and that is being a person of faith.
The Angel
Now we turn our attention to the most enigmatic of players in this drama – the angel. Primarily an angel is a messenger but this one has a far greater role than that. Let's see what we are told about the angel. (Another list!)
· He will go ahead of them (20)
· He will guard them (20)
· He will bring them into the land (20)
· He is to be listened to (he’ll speak) and obeyed (has power of forgivness) (21)
· He has God’s name (21)
· Seems to be interchangeable with God (23)
· He can bless, provide, heal (25-26)
We have seen him before at the burning bush (3:2) and also in chapter 14 verse 19 acting with the cloud at the Red Sea. The angel moves and so does the cloud. They play a similar role there and in the ongoing journey to Canaan. In fact, so will the ark of the covenant when it is introduced. The angel, like the cloud and the ark is indicative of God’s presence with his people. perhaps we should see him as a theophany of God: that is, a representation of God, the sight of which does not bring death to the observer. Of course, the angel could be seen as Moses who does many on these things but I think 33:34 precludes this assessment.
The angel, cloud and ark are always physically in front of the people as they move on their journey and they only move when the angel does so. God’s angel is the senior party indicating God's initiative.
Questions
We could ask whether the New Testament believer has an equivalent of the angel.. Of course, we have Christ but he enters our lives by the Holy Spirit who is the ultimate manifestation of God’s presence with his people. Peter Enns makes the important point that, God, through the Holy Spirit is not our co-pilot but we are his co-pilots. To our shame, how many times do we try and reverse that order.
Further we might ask if Christ goes before us into the Promised Land.
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."(John 14:2-4)
As we close, notice in verse 32 the exclusivity of the covenant is repeated. Relationship with God and regard for him alone is absolutely paramount. We must trust him and move when he does, going in his direction, and not going our own way.
If only the Israelite nation had learned this lesson well enough in time to avert tragedy.