If you have ever read Exodus 24 and wondered why Moses throws blood on a crowd of people, you are not alone. We have read past this chapter ourselves. But this strange scene, where Moses announces “the blood of the covenant,” turns out to be one of the most beautiful pictures in the Old Testament. It is a peace treaty, a wedding, and a shared meal with God, all at once.
Let's walk through Exodus 24, step by step. You will see what each detail meant to Israel, why the people could not keep their promises, and how the chapter points straight to Jesus and the Last Supper.
Key Takeaways
Exodus 24 follows the pattern of an ancient covenant ceremony, and the prophets describe it as a wedding between God and his people.
Israel promised three times to obey everything, but their hearts could not keep that promise.
The blood at Sinai points forward to Jesus, who said, “This is my blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28).
Those covered by the blood were welcomed near and found peace in the middle of the fire.
Why Does God Make a Covenant on a Mountain?
When a great king made peace with a smaller people in the ancient world, the ceremony included representatives, terms, vows, blood, and a feast. Exodus 24 has every piece. Moses, Aaron, Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders serve as representatives. The terms are the law God has just given, and the other party is God himself.
The prophets show us that this covenant is even more personal than a treaty. In Ezekiel 16:8, God says to Israel, “I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.” God was not just choosing a nation. He was choosing a bride.
And why a mountain? Throughout Scripture, going up means drawing near to God. Eden, Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, and Mount Zion all sit on high places. To go up is to lift your eyes and admit there is Someone greater than you.
Boundaries That Point to a Better Mediator
Yet even this honored group is told to “worship from afar” (Exodus 24:1). Only Moses may come near. No one can approach God on their own merits.
Moses stands in the middle as mediator, pointing us to Jesus: “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). In Christ, the promise is “for all who are far off” (Acts 2:39). That is a staggering gift, and it should never make us casual about God's holiness.
What Did Israel Mean When They Said: “We Will Do”?
Moses told the people all the words of the Lord, and they answered with one voice, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 24:3). They had said it before in Exodus 19:8, and they would say it again in verse 7. In Hebrew culture, repeating something three times made it the strongest promise possible.
Then Moses wrote everything down. God's word was not left to drift with culture, feelings, or favoritism. It was fixed and permanent, literally written in stone.
Moses built an altar for the Lord and twelve pillars representing the twelve tribes. Young men offered burnt offerings for consecration and peace offerings to celebrate fellowship with God.
Hearing That Becomes Obeying
In verse 7, the people add, “we will be obedient.” The Hebrew literally says, “we will hear.” It is the difference between a child hearing you and actually listening.
Here is the sad irony: Israel meant it. They had seen God's power and wanted to please him. But they did not know how broken their hearts were. Before Moses even came back down, they built a golden calf. Jeremiah 31 later promises a new covenant in which God writes his law on our hearts, because willpower alone was never going to be enough.
The Blood of the Covenant at Sinai and in the Upper Room
Now comes the part that surprises modern readers. Moses threw half the blood on the altar and the other half on the people, saying, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you” (Exodus 24:8). Everyone was covered.
Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11). The message was clear: “If I break this covenant, it is my life on the altar.” The people were binding their lives to God.
But Israel kept breaking their vows, so the sacrifices had to be repeated year after year. It is a bit like New Year's resolutions. We are sincere in January, and by February, we have already slipped.
Then, on the night before the cross, Jesus took Moses' words and changed one thing: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). No longer the blood of goats and bulls, but the infinitely precious blood of the Son of God, offered “once for all” (Hebrews 9:12).
Here is the heart of this chapter: We can never earn our place in God's presence, but through the blood of Jesus, God welcomes us near. As Hebrews 10:19 and 22 say, “We have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus... let us draw near with a true heart...”
A Meal With God Above a Pavement of Heaven
Right after the blood ceremony, the leaders climb the mountain, and “they saw the God of Israel” (Exodus 24:10). Since no one can see God in his full glory and live (Exodus 33:20), this was a real but limited manifestation of him.
They describe only what was beneath his feet: “a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.” This blue stone was likely lapis lazuli, which ancient people associated with heaven. The word for pavement shares a root with brickwork. Israel had spent centuries making bricks as slaves. Now they saw that the most sacred treasure of other nations was simply brickwork beneath God's feet.
Then verse 11 says God “did not lay his hand” on them. “They beheld God, and ate and drank.” On a terrifying mountain, they were safe because they were covered by the blood.
At the Last Supper, Jesus echoes all of this. Instead of blood sprinkled on the outside, he says, “Drink of it,” because his blood cleanses within. Instead of merely admiring God's feet, the disciples watch God wash their feet. And he gives a new commandment: “love one another: just as I have loved you” (John 13:34).
Six Days in the Cloud: Why Did Moses Wait?
God told Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there” (Exodus 24:12). The cloud covered Sinai for six days, and on the seventh day, God called to him. This echoes creation, showing that the covenant was like a whole new world being made.
Picture those six days, with every sense swallowed up in God's glory. If we want deep encounters with God, we also need time alone with him, free from the noise.
Verse 17 says God's glory looked “like a devouring fire” to the people. From a distance, God seemed terrifying, and they assumed Moses was dead. But Moses walked into the fire and found glory, like standing in the calm eye of a hurricane. Everyone was covered by the blood, but only those who drew near saw God's beauty.
What This Means for Daily Life
This ancient covenant speaks to your Monday morning: the God who once kept people at a distance now invites you into his presence every day through Jesus.
Come boldly, but reverently. Approach God with confidence in Christ, and never treat his grace as cheap.
Stop trying to earn it. Rest in the finished work of Jesus instead of promising to try harder.
Make room to be alone with God. Set aside your phone and other distractions, even briefly each day.
Let hearing become obeying. When you read Scripture, ask what God wants you to do.
Love as Jesus loved. Serve someone sacrificially this week.
Reflective Questions
Do you tend to see God more as a distant fire or as the One who welcomes you near?
Where are you still trying to keep your “we will do” promises in your own strength?
What distractions keep you from spending time alone with God?
How does knowing Jesus washed dirty feet change the way you serve others?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did Moses Throw Blood on the People?
In ancient covenants, blood sealed the agreement. It represented life, so the people were binding their lives to God. It also covered them so they could come near.
Did the Elders Really See God?
They saw a real manifestation of God, but not his infinite glory. That is why the description stops at his feet.
How Does Exodus 24 Connect to the Last Supper?
Jesus repeated Moses' covenant words and made them his own. Both scenes include blood, a meal, and a commandment, but Jesus' blood forgives once for all.
Why Couldn't Israel Keep Their Promise?
They sincerely wanted to obey, but their hearts were broken by sin. That is why God promised a new covenant that changes the heart.
Drawing Near Through Jesus
Friend, you do not have to stand at the bottom of the mountain wondering if God will accept you. You do not have to keep renewing promises you cannot keep. Jesus kept the covenant for you, and his blood has opened the way.
The blood of the covenant shed at Calvary means you are welcomed, safe, and loved in God's presence. Come close, and you will find that the fire you once feared is the place of deepest peace.
This week, take one quiet step. Set aside fifteen minutes, put away every distraction, and read Hebrews 10:19–22 slowly. Then tell us in the comments what it was like to draw near.
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