The Mosaic Covenant

God made a covenant with the entire nation of Israel

The arrival of the community of Israel at Mount Sinai was a momentous event that would shape their subsequent history. Encamped before this mountain, the Israelites encountered their God, who had recently delivered them from Egyptian slavery (Genesis 12:1-3, 12:13). At this mountain for the first time, God made a covenant with the entire nation of Israel (Exodus 19-24), usually referred to as the Mosaic covenant. He formalized His relationship with the Israelites with a suzerain-vassal (ruler-subject) treaty. That is, God came to the Israelites as the Great King and presented to them a binding treaty in which He would make certain promises to them and they would have certain obligations as His servants. This was not a treaty between equalsl it was a treaty between the superior King and His inferior servants. This type of covenant was common during this period of history between an overlord and his subjects. The overlord blessed and protected the people in exchange for loyalty and obedience.

In this treaty, God first reminded the Israelites of who He was and how He had acted in their behalf. He was their Saviour - the One who had snatched them from their oppressors (Exo. 19:4). And if they covenanted with Him, God promised to make the Israelites His 'special treasure' (Exo. 19:15). He would lavish special attention on them and make them 'a kingdom of priests and a holy nation' (Exo. 19:6). On the one hand, Israel would become holy - or distinct and separate from all other nations - because of this special relationship with God. But on the other hand, Israel, in its separation, was to be the means by which the other nations would learn of the living God. This nation of priests would leader others to a correct worship of the true God (Psalm 121:7).

As part of this treaty, God graciously instructed the Israelites on how they should live (Exo. 20). As a people who had relationship with the living God, the Israelites had to act a certain way - God's way. The Law was benevolent instruction from God Himself. It was God's direction, like an outstreched hand pointing out the way one should take o nthe road of life. The Israelites were in a most enviable position. God had demonstrated His love for them by saving them. He had shown His faithfulness His promises to their parents, Abaraham and Sarah. He had formalized His relationship with them in a treaty and promised to make them His special people. Finally He even gave them instructions for how to live. They were at peace with their Creator.