Our Blood Covenant
Paulette Fraticelli

(Ex 24:8 NIV) Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Most people are familiar with the "Ten Commandments" of Exodus 20. However, the Lord continued to give commandments (laws) to Moses for the next three chapters. In Exodus 24 the Lord 'sealed the deal' with a covenant of blood.

Moses told the people all the Lord's words and laws; and they responded with one voice saying, "Everything God said, we will do." Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the next morning, built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. He then sent young men to offer bullocks as peace offerings to God. Moses took half of the blood of the animals and put it in bowls and sprinkled the other half on the altar. Afterwards Moses took the Book of the Covenant (which he had written the night before) and read it as the people listened.

Once again, they said, "Everything God said, we will do. Yes, we will obey." This is where it really gets good to me. Moses took the rest of the blood and threw it out over the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has made with you out of all these words I have spoken." Remember, the Old Testament is a foreshadow of the New.Let's take a closer look at this passage. The Lord gave Moses four chapters of clear instructions to give the people. He then told the people what God said and they said, with their own mouths, that they would obey it. Moses took it a step further and wrote down what God said, had an altar built, applied the blood of bullocks to it, and shared the commands of God again with the people.

Once again, they declared that they would be obedient to the Words of God. Only after this declaration of obedience would the other half of the blood be applied to the people. So there was blood on the altar and blood on the people, showing that both were mutually bound by this blood covenant (the strongest form of covenant). God was bound to protect, shield, and bless His people and they were bound to honor, love, and serve their God. So what does this mean ?It means that we are also in a Blood Covenant with God. Our covenant, however, was ratified with the most precious blood ever shed - the Blood of Jesus. All the gold in the world could not purchase one drop of Jesus' blood. Jesus died as the ultimate sacrifice (animals no longer required).

His blood was shed on Calvary's cross for the remission of sin and the redemption of humanity. This cleansing blood is offered to all people - the entire world - but like the people in the text, we must first make a declaration of obedience and acceptance before the blood is applied to our lives. Once we openly declare (with our own lips), that Jesus is Lord, that He died, and was risen from the dead, He becomes our Lord and Savior. It is at this point that His blood is applied to our lives, and the blood covenant is sealed!

Once the blood of Jesus is applied to our lives we enter into an everlasting covenant with the King of Glory. We are bound to honor, love, and serve Him and He is bound to protect, shield, and bless us!That's what this upcoming Sunday (Resurrection Sunday) is all about. Sunday we should celebrate the fact that Jesus conquered hell, sin, and the grave so that we could do the same. Father, I acknowledge afresh that Jesus the Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life in the earth, was persecuted, crucified, died, and was buried. You raised Him from the dead on the third day with all power in His hand. He ascended up to heaven and is seated at Your right hand.

He is coming again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom will have no end. I acknowledge this with my lips and with my heart and I thank You for applying the blood of Jesus to my life. I am in Blood Covenant with You Lord and this covenant cannot and will not ever be broken. You are the God that I serve and I put no other gods before You. The blood of Jesus is applied to my life and I am healed, healthy, blessed, and prosperous because of it! In Jesus' name. Amen.