Exodus 18
· Exodus 18 is historically out of order
o Jethro knew Jehoveh's name
o Jethro knew where the mount of God was
§ Moses probably took him here after the burning bush
o Jethro offered an "Olah" and a "Zevah" sacrifice for the God of Israel. Both of which were very specific and given after where Ch 17 and 20 are in historical order
· Jethro, the priest of Midian
o Jethro is a pagan priest
o The repetitive and heavy-handed use of the phrase "father-in-law" suggests more than a relationship, but that Jethro carried true authority over Moses
§ Moses prostrate himself and kissed him
§ Moses was "adopted" into Jethro's family during his 40 years after fleeing Egypt after the murder of the Egyptian guard
§ Moses left Jethro and his family to return to his people in Egypt.
· Zipporah's narrative starts with her traumatic response to the circumcision of her son (Ex 2:16-21; 4:24-26)
o Zipporah circumcises the first born to keep Yehoveh from killing him, due to Moses disobedience about circumcision as he goes to meet Pharoah about Israel, the "first born son" of Yehoveh.
§ Midianite custom to circumcise just before marriage. Moses appeasing his wife?
· Zipporah is not mentioned again after this. Strangely, there is no account of Moes and Zipporah's meeting. In Num 21:1, Moses marries another woman.
o The two sons stay with Moses and become Israelites. The son of Gershom was in a scandal over a carved image (Judges 18:30)
o Jethro's "cuts a covenant" [in Hebrew "b'rit"]
§ Confess Yehoveh to be "El", the greatest
§ This was Jethro's covenant conversion ceremony
· Jethro establishes the first judicial system of Israel
o Man made, not God ordained – yet God allowed it
§ Did not involve the Priests or Levites, it was Social
§ Remains as the model for the church in the NT -> 1Tim 3, Titus 2
§ Well organized and allowed the nation to survive/function
o GROUPS OF 10, 50, 100, AND 1000, each group has a leader
§ Leaders of 10s reported to leaders of 50
§ Leaders of 50s reported to leaders of 100
§ Leaders of 100s reported to leaders of 1000
§ Leaders of 1000's reported to Moses. Moses was the final authority
Exodus 19
· Third month after leaving Egypt -> month of Sivan
o Ten "Words" given during what would become the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
· A New Covenant was being formed
o Abrahamic Covenant was more of a Promise, this was more like a traditional covenant.
o If you obey my voice (words), keep my Covenant, you will be a special treasure -> a kingdom of priests, a HOLY nation
o Unprecedented relationship between "a god" and man
o Mt. Sinai Covenant would be fundamentally different as Israel had OBLIGATIONS
§ Suzerain - an agreement between UN-equals
§ Neither covenant precisely fits the mold of human covenants of that era
o A Covenant never replaces another Covenant, they are additive. Each covenant has a Purpose and an Age. (See diagram)
§ Some elements of the two earlier covenants were transformed with the covenant of Christ.
· Those transformed elements were things which had pointed to future fulfillments
o EXAMPLE: Sacrificial system fulfilled by Yeshua's blood.
§ Each covenant was full and complete for its intended PURPOSE
· Each new covenant didn't "improve" on an earlier one
· Israel camped before the mountain, Moses went up
o A barrier was constructed to keep the people away for their own protection – lest they touch the HOLY mountain and die
§ The place marketed as Mt Sinai today is not it. It doesn't match any of the descriptive markers or described location. The real location (Horeb in Arabia) still has stone walls around it today and other archeological evidence. (See picture)
o Mankind cannot stand on Holy Ground
o Ritual washing SYMBOLIC of spiritual cleansing
§ Outward (ritual) washing cannot produce inward purity
§ Mosaic Covenant system of ritual bathing and washing was just a TEACHING and a SHADOW of what ONLY Christ could do
§ 3rd day – number of Perfection
§ Do not have sex with your wives (uncleaness in the upcoming covenant)
· uncleaness ¹ sin
· God gives Moses alone permission to ascend and approach Him
o Sound of the shofar -> shook the ground (same as in Revelation)
o "Fire" on top, all covered in "smoke" -> The Glory of God's Presence
o No one else can approach -> Moses alone had been declared Holy by Yehoveh (Similar to burning bush)
§ Aaron was allowed to be in a mid-level that we will see explained later, Moses could stand on the summit
§ Pattern is the same as the tabernacle
o Priests at that time were the firstborns, priesthood not established yet
§ Mediator progression was from family head, to the first born, to Levi (substituted firstborns), to the High Priest (family of Aahron from within Levi), to Yeshua the First Born of the Living and Eternal High Priest and Mediator
