Wedneday 31 July 2024
Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and 70 of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. (vs 9-10)
Background
In earlier chapters when Moses went up the mountain to meet with God, he went alone, and there is frequent emphasis on the dangers of looking at God, for God’s holiness was considered to be more than humans could tolerate. So, it is a bit of a surprise to find the instruction that four named leaders and 70 other elders should go up with Moses and that they ‘saw God’.
At the start of the chapter, it seemed as though they were only to go so far, and then to worship at a suitable distance. There are then some verses that don’t seem to fit. This may be because the final version of Exodus is an interweaving of several sources, or at least two main ones. These verses describe the process of sacrifice and give a link with Jesus’ sacrifice, and with the wording of our Communion services with reference to the ‘blood of the new Covenant’.
In verse 9 we return to this group of worshippers making their way up the mountain of God. We’re told that they saw the God of Israel and yet the only description of that sighting is of the pavement beneath God’s feet. So did they really ‘see God’ or were they dazzled and only able to see what God was standing on? Alternatively, approaching with true reverence, they perhaps had their heads down, or even prostrated themselves, in which case the pavement may have been the most they could see.
In the following verses it was only Moses and Joshua who seemed to go all the way up, leaving two other named leaders to solve any disputes among the 70. Finally, it was only Moses who stayed enveloped in the cloud for 40 days and 40 nights.
To Ponder:
- For many the reference to blood sacrifice is off-putting if not repulsive. How do you feel about it? Does it help to remember that blood is symbolic of life, and that, sprinkled as in the story here, or symbolically shared in Communion, it is a celebration of unity?
- Muslims prostrate themselves in prayer. Sometimes Christians kneel. We usually bow our heads to pray. Do you have other practices using your body in worship?
Prayer
Here our humblest homage pay we,
Here in loving reverence bow;
Here for faith’s discernment pray we;
Lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how. (George Hugh Bourne Singing the Faith 593)
Bible notes author: The Revd Pamela Cram
Pamela worked in several circuits and ecumenical posts in Wales before retiring in the Swansea Valley, where she is involved in a non-denominational community project; a church partnership with a Welsh independent church; and action for Fairtrade.