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.” Exodus 24:8
The old covenant provides an amazing picture of the new covenant. The old covenant provided a means for God to dwell amongst his people through the giving of the law and the tabernacle. The law provided instructions on how to live as God’s people – not how to become God’s people as this has always been through faith (Genesis 15:6). The covenant instructed them to live according to the law so God could bless them and show them his favour. The tabernacle was the place where God’s people were to worship him – to bring sacrifices and consecrate themselves to him.
The new covenant provides a means for God to dwell amongst his people through Jesus’ blood and the Holy Spirit. No longer are laws required to instruct us how to respond to each and every situation but rather God puts his laws in our hearts. It becomes our heart’s desire to follow God’s ways (Ezekiel 36:27). The new covenant also means there is no longer a physical tabernacle to worship God but rather we can worship him in spirit and truth wherever we are.
The old covenant is a mere shadow of the good things God planned for us in the new covenant. The requirement for holiness is still there but it’s met in Jesus. The requirement for sacrifice is also there but again it’s met in Jesus. While the old covenant has become obsolete it still speaks to us about the holiness of God and reveals the enormous sacrifice God made in order to be in relationship with us.
