Covenant II

​Imagine living in a village as a fisherman and trusting the sea as your friend and provider.  One beautiful day without warning it destroys your home and boat and drowns your family with one horrifying wave. Suddenly life no longer offers any hope or meaning.  Welcome to the world many find themselves along the coasts of the three nations hardest hit by the recent tsunami—Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. Tomorrow we will travel to an Indian coastal town and give money and medical supplies to a church ministering directly to people whose lives are ruined.  Yet the greatest thing we have to give is not money or rebuilding broken infrastructures rather it is the message of hope about the God we worship.Our God is a covenant maker and a promise keeper.  

Our God tells us what He is going to do.  You can study the passages listed below to see fascinating accounts of God’s promises throughout history to people. 
 
Major Covenants in the Old Testament
Promise Made to:          Bible Passage                   Sign of the Covenant
Noah                                 Gen. 9:8-17                        Rainbow
Abraham                          Gen.12:2,3;15:13-16          Abraham’s descendants inherit Canaan
                                          Gen. 17:1-22                      Circumcision of males
Israel                                 Exo.3:17,20; Deu.29:2-6   Israel’s deliverance from Egypt
                                          Exo. 19:5; Deu.5:2-22; 26:16-19     Ten Commandments
                                          Exo.32:13,14; Num. 14:13-24  Moses’ reminds God of His promise
                                          Deu.11:12, 22-25; 12:10    God’s care and protection
                                          Deu.15:6                             Israel’s ability to rule and prosper
                                          Deu.28                                Blessing of Israel tied to obedience
                                          Isa.7:14, 9:1,2,6,7; 11; 42:1-4; 53
                                          Micah 5:2; Hos.11:1; Zech.9:9
                                          Jer. 31:31-34                       Messiah foretold and new covenant
Phinehas                          Num. 25:10-13                    Lasting priesthood
David                                2 Sa.7:5-16; Psa.133:11,12 Great name and eternal throne
Solomon                          2 Ch.7:14-22                         Throne established if obedient

Major Covenants in the New Testament
Promise Made to:          Bible Passage                      Sign of the Covenant
Mankind                          John 3:16-18,36; 4:14; 6:35-58; 8:12; 14:1-3;
                                          Acts 2:21; Rom.6:23; 8:1,11; 10:9,10,13;11:29;
                                           2 Co.4:14; Eph.1:7;
                                          Heb.9:15, 13:20                     Salvation in Christ and eternal life
                                          Mat.25:31-46; Rom.2:16;
                                          2 Co.5:10                               Final judgment
                                          Mat.24:27; 26:64; Acts 1:11
                                           1 Th.4:16-18; Rev.1:7           Second coming
Believers                           John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13;
                                           Rom.8:26; Eph.1:13,14        Holy Spirit given
                                           Mat.5-7; 16:27                      Reward for conduct
                                           John 14:13,14; 16:24;
                                           1John 5:14                           Answered prayer
                                           2 Th.3:3; 1 Pe.5:10; 2 Pe.1:3        Protection and provision

Our God fulfills His Word.  The following passages bear truth to this fact: Deuteronomy 7:8,9; Jos.23:14; Psa.111:5; 119:140; Psa.145:13; Acts 13:32,33; Heb.6:17,18; 10:23; 2 Pe.3:9.

Our God’s promise to Abraham is directly linked to us!  A reading of Galatians 3:14-25 makes this point clear. Galatians 3:14 reads, “ The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.”  Our responsibility and joy is to share with people the reality that by making Abraham’s God their God, they make his blessing their blessing.    Something to think about . . . in reveration.   
 
Inspiration
The patience of hope does not turn men and women into monks and nuns, it gives men and women the right use of this world from another world’s standpoint.—Oswald Chambers in Christian Discipline  
 
©2005 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)