The covenant that God made with the children of Israel through Moses built on the two previous covenants – the Noahic and Abrahamic. Through this covenant, God desired to set apart for Himself a people who would be to Him a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The details of the Mosaic covenant are captured in various passages spread out through the Pentateuch books other than Genesis. This covenant notably highlights the components of a covenant – God rehashing His past victorious deeds for His people; stipulations in this case the ten commandments and laws; blessings and curses because of obedience or disobedience; a sign of the covenant in this case, the sabbath; the shedding of blood through the various sacrifices and feasts.

Through Christ, the church has now become partakers of a better covenant mediated by one who is greater than Moses. Presently, the church is the kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Whereas there are many similarities between the Mosaic and the New Covenant, there is a sharp difference when it comes to the issue of blessings and curses. In the former, the people were either blessed or cursed depending on their obedience or disobedience (See Deuteronomy 28). However, in the latter, God’s people have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3) but have no curse whatsoever because Christ became a curse for us when He hang on the cross (Galatians 3:13). The law of Moses was written on tablets of stones but now the law of Christ is written in our hearts. Praise be to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who is the mediator of the new and better covenant.

1. What about the Mosaic covenant fascinates you?

2. What similarities and differences do you see between Moses and Jesus?

3. How does the understanding of the Mosaic covenant aid you in your worship of God?