God’s Covenant with the nation of Israel 2

God’s Covenant with the nation of Israel 2

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

God’s covenant with the nation of Israel, as with all His covenants and prophetic words, has a message for the time when it was established, a message for the Church today and a message for the future.

Often called the Mosaic Covenant, it is important because it pictures the ministry and sacrifice of Jesus and Israel’s role in bringing that message to the world.

The Mosaic Covenant is a conditional covenant made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24).  It is different from the Abrahamic Covenant and the New Covenant in Jesus Christ.  Those covenants are unconditional.  In contrast, the blessings of the Mosaic covenant are poured out when Israel is obedient to the Lord.

The most well known section of the covenant is The Decalogue or Ten Commandments.  It is interesting to note that in the original language the word “commandment” is not used.  Commentary from the One New Man Bible recounts, “When they are given again in Deut. 5:6-18 and Deut. 10:4 these are referred to as statements.”  The phrase “The Lord spoke” does not necessarily mean that the Lord commanded.

The ONMB goes on to comment, “These instructions were given in the future tense because all who commit to Him will change behavior and no longer do those things.”  We often tell people that in order to have a relationship with the Lord, they must give up inappropriate behaviors.  The original language suggests that when we come into a relationship with God, we will no longer want to walk in our old mindsets and lifestyles.  It is relationship that brings us into repentance.

The first four statements deal with loving God; the last six concern human behavior and relationships.  Notice that even in the list, relationship with God comes first.  We see the Jewish understanding of that concept in Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV).   A lawyer came to question Jesus. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"  Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."  Our relationship with the Lord leads us into quality relationships and behaviors.

In establishing that order, God identifies Himself.  “I am the Lord your God Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, and of the house of bondage” Exodus 20:2 ONMB.  How is that message relevant for us today?

One way of digging deeper into the Word of God is known as the rule of first mention. To more fully understand “Egypt” in scripture, we must go to the place where Egypt is first mentioned.  Genesis 12:10 (NKJV) “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land."

 

God has said that He would provide for Abram in the land of Canaan.  Abram‘s faith was not great at that point in his life.  So, he went into Egypt and into trouble that continues today.  It was in Egypt that Abram and Sarai acquired Hagar who became the mother of Ishmael who is the father of many of the tribes in the Middle East today.  Abram became a victim of the world system. 

Therefore, Egypt becomes a symbol of what happens in our lives when we walk out of God’s will and into the world system. Bondage to fear, unbelief and sin takes control of our lives.  In His covenant fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lord God brings us out of all that.

The more we realize the relationship involved in our covenant with God through the sacrifice of Jesus, the more we will desire to walk out of the ways of the world and into the blessings of God.  

The second statement is “You will have no other gods before Me. You will not make any graven image for yourself, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You will not bow down to yourself to them, or serve them, for I AM the Lord your God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love Me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:3-6 NOMB). That is God declaring how we are changed in our relationship with Him. That is God declaring covenant over us.

God describes Himself as a jealous God.  We often confuse jealousy with envy.  Even though now we tend to use the two words as synonyms, in earlier years, their definitions were distinctive.  To be envious was to desire what belonged to another.  To be jealous was to desire to keep what was already in one’s possession.  God is jealous to keep us close to Him.  He desires close relationship with us.  All of what we have called commandments are, in reality, God’s directives for an abundant, joyful and peaceful life style.  

Remember Jesus’ words in John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (NKJV). God’s statements declare that when we are in relationship with Him, our desire, too, will be to have life and have it more abundantly.  

Just as I Am

By Charlotte Elliot

1	Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
2	Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot; To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
3	Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt; Fightings within, and fears without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
4	Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind; Sight, riches, healing of the mind; Yes, all I need, in Thee to find, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
5	Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
6	Just as I am, Thy love unknown Has broken every barrier down; Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!