Longing for God: The Gift of Covenant and Grace

Summary

In Exodus 21-24, God meets His people at Mount Sinai and gives them the law, continuing the covenant relationship He initiated with them. This moment is not just a historical curiosity; it exposes a deep tension that resonates with every human soul. On one hand, there is a universal hunger for the transcendent—a longing to encounter the divine, to find meaning, to be known and loved by something greater than ourselves. On the other hand, the way God chooses to relate to His people—through law, covenant, and obedience—feels deeply uncomfortable to the modern mind, which often equates rules with oppression and autonomy with true freedom.

Yet, the biblical picture is that true spirituality and fullness of life are found not in unbounded autonomy, but in covenantal relationship—a relationship that, like all meaningful relationships, is shaped and protected by commitments, promises, and yes, even rules. The law is not given to oppress, but to guide, to form, and to protect the relationship between God and His people. The Israelites themselves saw the law as a gift, a source of life and justice, not a burden. Even those who claim to be “spiritual but not religious” often yearn for the very justice and meaning that God’s law seeks to establish.

But here lies the problem: while we may desire relationship with God, we are unable to keep the terms of the covenant. The law exposes our inability to live up to God’s standards—whether it’s coveting, lying, following the crowd, or failing to care for the vulnerable. The law is personal, because God is personal; breaking it is not just a technicality, but a relational breach. This creates a tension: we long for God, but our failures separate us from Him, and justice demands a response.

The answer is found in the need for a mediator. Just as the Israelites needed Moses to stand between them and God, we need a greater mediator—Jesus Christ. He fulfills the law, bears the consequence of our failure, and establishes a new covenant in His blood. Through Him, we are not only forgiven, but empowered by the Spirit to live out the law’s intent. The invitation is to fix our eyes on Jesus, our high priest, who bridges the gap and secures our relationship with God, not by our perfection, but by His grace.

Key Takeaways

- The human longing for the divine is universal and persistent, even as organized religion declines. People seek meaning, transcendence, and connection in countless ways, but the hunger itself points to a deeper reality: we are made for relationship with a personal God who desires to be known. This longing cannot be satisfied by vague spirituality or impersonal forces; it is only met in the God who reveals Himself and calls us into covenant. [05:48]

- True relationship always involves commitment, boundaries, and mutual expectations—what the Bible calls “covenant” or “law.” Far from being antithetical to intimacy, these commitments are what make real relationship possible. Just as marriage vows or friendship boundaries protect and shape our human relationships, God’s law is given to form and safeguard our relationship with Him. Autonomy without commitment leads not to freedom, but to isolation. [18:48]

- The law is not an arbitrary set of rules, but a reflection of God’s character and a roadmap for justice and flourishing. Many of the laws in Exodus are about how we treat others—especially the vulnerable and marginalized. God takes personally how we treat other people, and this concern for justice is not diminished but heightened in the New Testament. Our yearning for justice in society echoes God’s own heart, but we must recognize our complicity and inability to fulfill it perfectly. [29:42]

- The tension between our desire for God and our inability to keep His law is resolved only through a mediator. The law exposes our failures and the need for justice, but also points us to the necessity of a priest—someone who can bridge the gap. Jesus is the true and better mediator, who fulfills the law, bears its penalty, and establishes a new covenant in His blood, making relationship with God possible for us. [34:07]

- In Christ, we are not only forgiven, but empowered to live out the law’s intent by the Spirit. The new covenant does not abolish the call to justice, love, and obedience, but enables us to walk in it from the inside out. Fixing our eyes on Jesus as our high priest, we find both the assurance of God’s acceptance and the power to become a kingdom of priests—people who reflect His justice, mercy, and love in the world. [36:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - The Modern Tension with God’s Law
[02:42] - The Rise of Secularism and Spiritual Hunger
[05:00] - The Search for Meaning Beyond Religion
[06:42] - God’s Law and Ancient Covenants
[08:00] - The Structure of the Suzerain-Vassal Treaty
[09:22] - The Stipulations and Public Reading
[10:29] - Blessings, Curses, and Sealing the Covenant
[11:44] - Dining with God: Relationship and Acceptance
[12:38] - Obedience as the Roadmap to Spiritual Life
[14:18] - The Modern Rejection of Authority
[15:05] - The Law as Life, Not Oppression
[16:06] - Law, Relationship, and the Personal God
[18:48] - Covenants in Everyday Relationships
[20:19] - The Need for a Personal God
[23:30] - God’s Personhood and Desire for Relationship
[24:58] - The Necessity of God’s Authority
[26:16] - Our Inability to Keep the Law
[29:42] - Justice, Complicity, and the Law’s Demands
[30:13] - Jesus Elevates the Law
[32:39] - The Tension: Longing and Failure
[34:07] - The Need for a Mediator
[36:40] - Jesus, Our High Priest and New Covenant
[37:43] - Invitation to Respond and Pray

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Exodus 21-24 – Law, Covenant, and the Longing for God

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### Bible Reading

- Exodus 24:1-11 (God confirms the covenant with Israel, the people promise obedience, and Moses sprinkles the blood of the covenant)
- Psalm 119:18, 20, 93 (The psalmist’s delight in God’s law)
- Hebrews 9:11-15 (Jesus as the mediator of a new covenant)

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### Observation Questions

1. In Exodus 24:1-11, what steps do the Israelites and Moses take to confirm the covenant with God? What is the significance of the blood and the meal shared in God’s presence?
2. According to Psalm 119:18, 20, 93, how does the psalmist describe his attitude toward God’s law?
3. In Hebrews 9:11-15, what does the author say about Jesus’ role as mediator compared to the old covenant?
4. The sermon described the law as a “roadmap for spiritual life” and not just a set of rules. What examples from Exodus 21-23 show this? [[06:42]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The Israelites repeatedly promise to obey God’s law, but the sermon points out that they (and we) are unable to keep it perfectly. What does this reveal about the nature of our relationship with God? [[26:16]]
2. The sermon argues that true relationship always involves commitment, boundaries, and mutual expectations. How does this challenge the modern idea that “freedom” means having no rules or commitments? [[18:48]]
3. The law is described as a reflection of God’s character and a guide for justice, especially toward the vulnerable. Why do you think God cares so much about how we treat others? [[29:42]]
4. The need for a mediator is a central theme. How does Jesus fulfill this role differently than Moses did for Israel? [[34:07]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon says that even people who are “spiritual but not religious” are searching for meaning and transcendence. Where do you see this hunger for the divine in your own life or in the lives of people around you? [[05:48]]
2. Think about a close relationship you have (friendship, marriage, family). What “rules” or boundaries help that relationship thrive? How does this help you understand why God gives us laws? [[18:48]]
3. The Israelites saw the law as a gift, not a burden. Is there a command of God that you have struggled to see as a gift? What might help you see it differently? [[15:05]]
4. The sermon gave examples of laws about justice and caring for the vulnerable. Is there a specific way you could act more justly or compassionately toward someone in your community this week? [[29:42]]
5. The law exposes our failures, but Jesus offers forgiveness and a new start. Is there an area where you feel you’ve fallen short of God’s standard? How does knowing Jesus is your mediator change how you approach God about it? [[34:07]]
6. The new covenant means we are empowered by the Spirit to live out God’s intent for the law. What is one area of your life where you want to ask the Holy Spirit for help to obey God more fully? [[36:40]]
7. The sermon ends with an invitation to “fix your eyes on Jesus.” What is one practical way you can do this in your daily routine this week? [[36:40]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for a deeper understanding of God’s law as a gift, for the humility to admit where we fall short, and for the Spirit’s help to live out God’s justice, mercy, and love—always keeping our eyes on Jesus, our mediator.

Devotional

Day 1: The Law as Covenant: God’s Desire for Relationship

God’s giving of the law at Sinai was not a cold set of rules, but the establishment of a covenant—a binding relationship—between Himself and His people. Like the suzerain-vassal treaties of the ancient world, God’s law was meant to shape, protect, and define the relationship, not to oppress but to invite His people into a life of belonging and purpose. The law is the roadmap for living in God’s presence, and the covenant is God’s way of saying, “I want to be with you.” [09:22]

Exodus 24:3-8 (ESV)
Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Reflection: In what ways do you see God’s desire for relationship with you reflected in the boundaries and commitments He calls you to honor today?

Day 2: The Law as Life-Giving, Not Oppressive

Contrary to the modern view that rules and laws are stifling, the people who first received God’s law saw it as a source of wonder, longing, and life. The law was not a burden but a gift, a way to experience the fullness of life and justice that God desires for His people. Even today, the longing for justice and meaning in our world echoes the heart of God’s law, which is meant to bring flourishing, not death. [15:05]

Psalm 119:18, 20, 93 (ESV)
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.
I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.

Reflection: What is one “rule” or command of God that you have seen bring life or justice to you or others, even if it was difficult to follow at first?

Day 3: True Relationship Requires Commitment and Boundaries

Every meaningful relationship—whether marriage, friendship, or community—requires some form of commitment, boundaries, or “law” to flourish. Total autonomy, doing whatever we want, actually undermines intimacy and trust. God’s law is not meant to keep us distant, but to give shape and security to our relationship with Him, just as vows do in marriage or rules do in a healthy community. [18:48]

Romans 13:8-10 (ESV)
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Reflection: Where in your relationships do you need to clarify or recommit to healthy boundaries or promises, so that love and trust can grow?

Day 4: The Tension: We Long for God, But Cannot Keep the Law

There is a deep tension in the human heart: we are drawn to God and desire relationship with Him, but we continually fall short of His standards. The law reveals both God’s holiness and our inability to keep the terms of the relationship, leading to a sense of fear, guilt, or distance. This tension is not meant to drive us away, but to awaken our need for help—a mediator who can bridge the gap between us and God. [33:17]

Romans 3:19-24 (ESV)
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: When you become aware of your shortcomings before God, do you tend to hide, make excuses, or seek help? What would it look like to bring your need honestly to God today?

Day 5: Jesus, Our Mediator and High Priest

God’s answer to the tension between His holiness and our failure is Jesus, our perfect mediator and high priest. Jesus fulfills the law, offers Himself as the sacrifice for our failures, and establishes a new covenant in His blood. Through Him, we are invited into a relationship with God that is secure, personal, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out God’s heart. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, we find both the justice and the mercy we need, and the courage to draw near to God. [36:40]

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust Jesus as your mediator today—bringing your failures, fears, or longings to Him in prayer?

Quotes

There's a yearning for it. So what's discomforting to us as modern people isn't so much the fact that in this scene of the Bible, people are encountering a higher power. We're all for that. It's not the fact that God exists that really is unsettling to us. It's what he does. It's what he does here in these few chapters that really rubs a lot of us the wrong way. And what does he do? He gives us the law. [00:06:20]

What God is saying is that true spirituality comes through obeying the law. He's saying that if you really want to have an encounter with the divine, if you want to really lean in and experience a higher power, it comes through obedience. It's rules that form the roadmap of the spiritual life. That freedom, the fullness of life, is actually found in obedience. [00:12:30]

In this viewpoint, rules are antithetical to spirituality. Law is what actually holds you back from being able to explore. Law is what oppresses you. It prevents you from being who you truly are supposed to be. It's about control, right? We could quote Marx, it's the opioid of the masses. Rules and law are really more about death than they are about life. [00:14:30]

The people who actually received this law didn't view it as a burden in that way. They saw it as an opportunity to live into the fullness of life. And I would argue, even though, even people who would say that they're spiritual but not religious, if that's you, in one sense you might reject the Bible's laws, but if you read these laws, a lot of them are talking about justice. Read these laws, and you'll see that so much of them are about justice, and that is what we are all yearning for in this society. [00:15:47]

If you reject the law you actually if you say I refuse to believe in that it means that you actually are rejecting the idea of having a personal god you cannot have a personal god that means you can't have a god that actually is anything other than just an impersonal vague force if you refuse to accept any type of law or tradition or authority. [00:16:28]

Every relationship has some sort of a law you cannot have relationship apart from a law think of a marriage you exchange vows of how you are going to honor each other cherish each other be faithful to each other that is a law that is a covenant it's actually a modern day version of a covenant that is what's at the core of a marriage. [00:17:26]

There is a sense which every relationship is governed by laws, and these laws are there to protect the relationship. They're there to help ensure that it will last. That's why you say these vows in a marriage, because marriage is more than about feeling, and there's times you're going to feel very close, and times you're not, but it's this covenant that you're making, this law that you're agreeing to abide by that's going to preserve your relationship. [00:19:28]

If you think that the law is actually going to hold you back from encountering the divine from having relationship with it of really getting close with it i'd say you actually have it the opposite way because think about a type of relationship where both people just decide they're going to do whatever they want can you really have that type of relationship a friendship where you're just going to do whatever you want you're going to show up when you want and the other person's going to do the same thing you can't have relationship without that you need to have people agreeing to abide by this covenant. [00:20:32]

The universe is a vast cold place there are estimated between 200 billion and 2 trillion galaxies not stars not planets galaxies up to 2 trillion galaxies and even our galaxy has between 100 and 400 billion stars do you think the universe really cares about you when it is that big you are not even a speck and i'm serious though like what because in one sense i mean it can be overwhelming and when things are going well it might be fine but when things are not it's a lot harder. [00:21:19]

The point is that we're drawn, we want some sort of personal contact with the divine, and you can't have that apart from law. Now the Bible is clear that God is a person, and we saw some of this. When you see this story, when we're talking about this encounter at Mount Sinai, God is speaking. He actually verbally speaks so the people can hear. When he's speaking, he uses pronouns like I and me. These are personal pronouns. [00:23:09]

God allows them to see him in that sense so that they know that this is a person that they're interacting with. God is a person. And what this makes clear in these chapters is that God really does want to be in relationship with his people. That's what a covenant was there for. It was to actually secure, cement a relationship. God is binding himself to his people with this. [00:24:36]

If you want a God who's actually able to deliver you, it has to be like this. If you want a God who's actually able to lead you somewhere, it has to be like this. He has to somehow be above you. You've been trying to do it on your own. And how does that work out, right? You need to actually have a God over you. [00:25:11]

The problem is that they couldn't. And you can't either. And I can't either. Let me just read a few of the laws that God gives them. And I got to do this somewhat quickly. God says, we talked in the Ten Commandments, do not covet. The entire American economy is built on coveting. What do you think advertising is? It's getting you to want something that you don't even need the majority of the time. [00:26:16]

Jesus, the New Testament doesn't get you off the hook. Jesus actually heightens the law. Instead of murder, it's have you looked with contempt upon another human being. Instead of adultery, have you looked with lust upon another human being? instead of don't mistreat foreigners it's the good samaritan go the extra distance pour yourself out for this person who is your neighbor anyone thank you love each other as i have loved you this is the new commandment i give you which is to bleed out for you. [00:30:19]

This is really the tension that i want to draw out this is this is the problem that we have with the law see a suzerain vassal treaty means that when you break the law it's not just some arbitrary law if i speed okay no big deal well probably i don't actually you can x that out from um but it's not personal with this you are in a covenant relationship with god you break the law that's a personal affront against him so it's personal we've seen that god is big and powerful and fierce right the whole mountain trembles from his presence we see over and over and over in these laws that god is god is a god of justice a god of justice a god of justice a violation a violation demands a consequence. And this is where fear comes in, because judgment demands punishment. [00:31:43]

We are drawn towards God. The great majority of people desire some sort of relationship, some sort of encounter with the divine, with the higher power. We are drawn towards it. We're drawn towards a personal God. We want to be in relationship with him, but the problem is we can't keep the terms of the relationship. We continuously fail, and we know that we are actually rebelling against him. That's the issue. [00:33:30]

The people themselves actually find the solution in this passage. In Exodus 20, after God gives the Ten Commandments, the people cry out, and they say to Moses, you speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak to us lest we die. I need a mediator between God and between me to help shield me from this. I need somebody who can make God that much more perfect. [00:34:07]

What Moses is symbolizing here is a priest a priest goes up to God helps bring God down to the people and the priest brings the people up to God that is what a priest does a mediator does and that is what we need is a priest and obviously the Bible says that Moses and the the covenant were not enough we need a different priest and that priest is Christ he allows us to see God who God truly is he executes we talked about the the building the altars executing animals splashing blood Jesus does that with his own blood and by that he satisfies the requirement for justice because you have to have it it says in the Bible there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood if there is no consequence for an action then there is no morality you have to have a consequence but we can't afford to pay it and so Jesus actually sacrifices himself to satisfy justice. [00:35:02]

Jesus actually says that he forms a new covenant in his blood and this redefines the terms of the relationship where it's no longer we need to keep our end of the bargain so to speak Jesus has almost almost co -signed for us on a loan that we can't pay and in this new covenant this new humanity he creates he gives us his holy spirit to actually live out the law for us so that we're able to meet its demands. [00:36:09]

As you think about this, in those moments too, when you start to encounter the divine, and you have that sense of terror because you know who you are in God's sight in one sense. This is what scripture says. It says, And that is my prayer for us. Fix your eyes on him and know that he has worked out this tension. It's not going to be perfectly clear. I don't have time to try to explain it. I don't even think I could fully explain how this works, but it does. And so just spend time on that. That's my encouragement. [00:36:57]

Chatbot

What is the biblical view of law and obedience?

How does Jesus redefine the relationship with God?

Why does encountering God's holiness create tension?