Taste & SeeSample

A Peaceful Meal Makes Fellowship Possible

They weren’t sure what was trembling more as they ascended the mountain known to quake in his presence. Was it their legs or the ground beneath their feet? Israel’s seventy elders, along with Aaron and his sons, followed Moses up his well-worn path to the summit of Mount Sinai.

God’s holiness was nothing to be trifled with. To get too near, or to even touch the mountain when God was there, meant instant death. Perhaps the only reassurance they wouldn’t be incinerated was that God himself had invited them. But when they reached the summit they saw something they never thought they’d see.

“And they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.” Exodus 24:10

Undoubtedly flattened by the sight, their eyes could see only as high as his feet and his heavenly footstool of translucent sapphire pavement. But the divine encounter didn’t end there.

“And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.” Exodus 24:11

Sharing a meal was an ancient way of sealing a covenant. Earlier Moses had read the Book of the Covenant in the hearing of the people, and they pledged their obedience by offering burnt and peace offerings.

Burnt offerings were an atonement for sin and the entire animal was consumed in the fire. But peace offerings were intended to be shared and given back to the worshipper. The peace offering was a voluntary sacrifice to thank God, and the worshipper would receive part of it back to enjoy for himself. It was this offering of fellowship and peace with God that the seventy-four men ate on the mountaintop.

This was a foretaste of a future meal of peace between God and man, made possible by a once-for-all peace offering at the cross. The paradox of the mountain meal is that the very place God was known to be unapproachable, terrifying, and far off, was the very place he came near.

God still comes near to dwell among us today. He’s holy, and yet because of his Son’s peace offering, he’s approachable. He dwells in the Shekinah glory of the mountain, and yet he walks with us through the deepest and darkest valleys.

Take heart, dear mountain climber, he invites you to ascend his holy mountain and fellowship with him. Even though our fellowship was broken with him in the garden, he’s made a way for us to come near with a peace offering paid in full at the cross. Come and behold his glory and eat and drink to your heart’s content.

Food for Thought

1. What does this story tell you about God’s holiness? How did Moses and the seventy-four feel about approaching God on Mount Sinai?
2. God allowed Moses and the seventy-four elders to eat and drink in his presence and catch a glimpse of him in his heavenly glory. How does God meet with you in both the majestic and mundane?
3. This ancient peace offering meal was a foretaste of a future peace offering in the New Testament. At Calvary, a new table was spread and the bread and the wine poured out for all to come and eat, and live. How are you able to enjoy a peaceful relationship with God?