Genesis 16-17
A covenant is an agreement between people. It was sometimes
made (the Hebrew word for this is “cutting” a covenant) between equals in which
case the covenant would speak of how they would live in peace together.
Sometimes they were made between one who is more powerful and one who is
weaker. In this case it would spell out what the weaker would do so that the
more powerful one would not destroy him (or his country).
So how would a covenant with God work?
On the surface one would think that there would be all
kinds of stipulations and orders that, if broken would lead to God smiting the
offender. That is not at all the language of God’s covenant with Abram. Instead
we find God saying, I’ll be your God. You’ll be my people. I’m going to bless
you. I’m going to give you the land. This covenant focuses almost exclusively
on what God will do. That is because the heart of this covenant is God’s mercy
and love.
Even the sign of the covenant – which is no joking matter
for a 99 year old man, his 13 year old son, and all the men attached to them! –
is meant, first and foremost, as a sign;
a reminder of what God had promised them. And it is no accident that the sign
that promises offspring and blessing to the world through that offspring is
placed on his sexual organ. This is the heart of the matter – God will bring
the covenant to fulfillment through Abram’s – Abraham’s – children, and
particularly a son, THE Son, who would be born centuries later.
Jesus, too, makes a covenant with us as His people.
Again, it is a covenant where the stronger gives Himself for the weaker. Again
it is one where He blesses us, makes us His people, and focuses on what HE will
do – chiefly, forgive us and restore us.
So, what does this leave for us to do and people in
covenant with God, and redeemed by Him? How about starting with saying, “Thanks!”
And then be who you are: a forgiven child of God.
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