Types of Covenants in Biblical History and Their Importance

Introduction

In biblical history, covenant is one of the most important contract or agreement made between God and his chosen people. They live according to the agreement without losing their faith and hope. They are committed to abide by the commandments which was given through Moses at Mt Sinai. So how the Jews’ traditional covenants were made, Gods’ covenant with his significant people (Moses, Abraham, Noah), importance of covenant and finally handed up fulfilment in life will be highlighted.

Covenant

The covenant means coming together as one to have promise between two people or parties to carry their obligations and commitments. There were two types of covenants where they used to bind their promises. Those are Conditional and Unconditional covenant. The conditional covenant which is said to be bilateral covenant and it is also an agreement made for both parties for their fulfillment. This kind of covenant has a certain condition to fulfill or turn to be reality but either side of them fails to meet their conditions and their responsibilities to meet have broken apart. Neither side or party really committed to fulfill their expectation of their agreement through the covenant.

Whereas an unconditional is also said to be unilateral covenant. It also has a promised or an agreement made between two people but only one of the two parties is to do something to meet the requirement while the other party is not required to do anything.

Traditional Covenants

The traditional covenant for Jews is a way of making lifelong agreement between two people (man with man) by setting some of their conditions and regulations to meet. They are committed to meet their traditional covenant then they have successful story in life. In scripture, (Genesis 29:15-28), the traditional covenant for Jacob and Laban is explained. He was promised to give his daughter Leah & Racal so Jacob was told to stay in his house for 14 years then Laban released to marry both of them.

There were three (3) promises for Abrahamic Covenants.

Promised Land

God promised to give the land to Abraham when he was at Ur. Then instructed him to left that land and go to his new land (Genesis 13:14-8). God said to Abraham, “looked around every corners of this land, I will still give you the land which I have shown you.” I’m letting you know that the actual thing that will happen during your journey is; majority of your people will enjoy living on that land. The people learn to count the dust particles, they could count the people so God know the future and order him to move. The actual land was located in between Egypt River and Euphrates River. That land was previously owned by Kenites, Hittites and Perizzites (Genesis 15:18-21). Abraham accepted his agreement and removed the tent and went near to Hebron City.

Lord said, “promised will happen to Abraham both blessing and curses.” God will be there with them and they will follow him with all their hearts (Deuteronomy 30: 1-10). Even they live far away from their land but God will bring them back to their original land where their descendants have been living in the past. Even though enemies will come to do bad things, God will be there to hate those who hate them. They would obey every commandment and the Lord will bless him with many children. He instructed him to follow all the rules and other things he wishes shall be added.

Bless Descendants

When Abraham was 72 years old without having any children, God had promised to blessed him with children and through him he will made a great nation. In Genesis 12:2 explained that Lord guaranteed Abraham that He will build a great nation through him and bless his name famous so that other people will continue to use his name to bless others. He will give Abraham with many descendants and also a new King of the nation. “I will promise again suggest the unconditional aspect of covenant and the covenant was later confirmed to Jacob” (Gen 18:14-15).

Gods New Covenant with Abraham (Blessing as Well as Redemption)

God had promised to bless Abraham and all population living on earth through him. This promised was amplified in the new covenant, (Jeremiah 31:31-34). In addition, it was confirmed that there was no misleading agreement for the first promised and there will be no mistake for the new promise. This is much better for the old ones because promise will be made in the hearts and the minds of the people of Israel. Before, the agreement was made to lead the people out of Egypt but today promise will be last longer for the future. The law will be put it in their hearts and it will have recalled from the mind. He turned to be their God and they shall be his sons and daughters. God will forgive their sins and they shall remember Him alone. That was a spiritual blessing for Abraham to have eternity.

God had made unconditional covenant to Abraham where He later confirmed by giving him Jacob. His descendants multiplied through Jacobs family and wherever they go or stay, God was always present with them. God’s grace to fulfill covenant to Abraham was literal and truth because God is a God of order comes in to proof its wordings for its own timing.

Covenant Made with Noah

Noah had built an alter to praise God while he got clean animals and burnt right in front of the alter and gave gift or offer to God. God got his sacrifices and had mercy on them by saying, never cause again to destroy all living things on earth (Genesis 8:20-9). There are two seasons like time to plant as well as harvest, day and night so He kept all things as it was. Before God ordered him to eat only green plants but later allow them to have both plants and animals as food because He released authority on Noah’s hand to control the living creatures on earth.

One thing God said no to him was, do not eat the animals have blood. (The promised God made to Noah was that his people will live after him. He promised to take animals with him on the boat and destroy all lives son earth using flood. God said, “there will be a cloud covering the earth while rainbow will also shine which reflects that it is the covenant made between Noah and God.” After that, there will be no flood again. Later actual promised was fulfill, then Noah proof that it was true (Genesis 9:17).

Covenant at Mt Sinai

Lord instructed Moses to come up to the mountain, it was covered with thick clouds demonstrates that Gods glory came down and stayed at Mt Sinai. The clouds there for almost six days and seventh day, Lord spoke directly to Moses in the form of cloud of thunder, (Exodus 24:12). The Israelites saw the sign of the Lord which was exactly like a burning fire at night and day became cloud. Moses went to the mountain and stayed there for 40 days and 40 nights. The great Lord blessed him with 10 commandments written on the stone that was their guide line which helped Moses to lead the people. Those covenants were made with God and Moses to bring the people of Israelites to the promise land.

Importance of the Covenants, Relationship with God and His Chosen Ones (Israel).

The importance is that; covenant gave a strange to Israelites (or Gods chosen ones) to think back their previous agreement and follow even problems disturbed their journey. Through their patience to meet God’s promise, blessings and redemption were given to them. The promise of God made Israel confident to came out from slave and had their original land. Their relationship with God was so strong because they remembered the covenant which led them to live in the promise land (Jeramiah 31:32).

Conclusion

In the beginning, the Word was there and it was with God. He knows both past and present and created man to rule and have dominion over everything on Earth. God is a God of order who can make the promises into reality. What He had been made promises to his chosen ones had not been forgotten, it’s a must that He stand upon his words to fulfill even as many years pass by. Gods truth with his people of Israel was so great, they admire a lot and trust his commandments. Therefore, I surely agreed that God is a spirit who knows everything and do promises. God’s promised to give his begotten Son Jesus to save those lost in spiritual destination and every one of us free to glorify the God three in one through worship and freely have eternity for the second coming.