“And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”
Exodus 24:8 marks a significant moment in the narrative of the Book of Exodus. To understand the verse better, it’s helpful to provide some context. In Exodus 24, Moses and the elders of Israel ascend Mount Sinai to meet with God. Before this encounter, God had revealed Himself to the Israelites through various signs, wonders, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.
In verse 8, Moses takes the blood and sprinkles it on the people. This act of sprinkling the blood signifies the establishment of a covenant between God and the Israelites. In the biblical context, a covenant is a sacred agreement or contract between two parties, where both parties have responsibilities and obligations to fulfill.
The blood that Moses sprinkled on the people is a significant symbol in this covenant ceremony. Blood has a special significance in the Old Testament as a symbol of life. The shedding of blood represents the seriousness and commitment involved in making a covenant with God. By sprinkling the blood on the people, Moses is involving the entire community of Israel in this covenant, signifying their collective participation and commitment.
Moses then declares, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.” This statement emphasizes that the covenant is initiated by God Himself. It is not a mere agreement between the Israelites but a divine covenant established by the Lord. The covenant includes all the words, commandments, and instructions given by God to the Israelites.
This verse foreshadows the greater significance of blood in the New Testament through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus, through His sacrificial death on the cross, established a new covenant between God and humanity. Jesus referred to His blood as “the blood of the new covenant” during the Last Supper (Matthew 26:28).
The sprinkling of blood in Exodus 24:8 serves as a foreshadowing or a type of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Through His blood, a new and everlasting covenant is established, which provides forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God for all who believe in Him.
In summary, Exodus 24:8 captures the moment when Moses sprinkles the blood of the covenant on the people, signifying the establishment of the divine covenant between God and the Israelites. This act points to the greater significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and the establishment of the new covenant in the New Testament.
