Why is obedience important in the Covenant with Israel?

In the context of the Sinaitic Covenant, obedience was vital as it served as the condition for receiving God's promised blessings. In Exodus 19:5, God states, 'If you will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant,' indicating that Israel's response was critical to their covenant relationship. The blessings outlined—a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation—were contingent upon their faithfulness to God's commands. This principle of conditionality reflects God's holiness and the requirement for His people to reflect His character. However, as seen later in the narrative, Israel's inability to perfectly obey underscores humanity's need for a mediator—ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ, whose perfect obedience secures for believers the covenant of grace rather than works.