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A Study in Hebrews Covenant Text: Genesis 12 ● As a reminder: ~ Christianity comes to us in the form of story; and, ‘stories’ framed within the context of an overarching narrative. ~ Christianity is a decidedly Jewish story. It claims to be the ‘true’ story of God and the world amidst many competing stories. ~ In order to understand the story, we must place the words, actions and very mission of Jesus within the context of this Jewish story. Even the very vocabulary that saturates our conversation in Christianity must be placed within the context of the story in order for us to not only understand how the story has developed historically, but also where the story is going (i.e. sin, salvation, redemption, atonement, etc.) You almost feel as if the story is ‘choosing you’! ● Attempting to understand Jesus and his relationship to the covenant (his words, deeds, mission, etc.) without an understanding of the story is like ushering someone into an arena and watching these extraordinarily large human beings chasing each other while attempting to launch a ball through a metal cylinder without an understanding of the game of basketball. The idea of covenant is fundamental to the story we have entered. ● The narrative of covenant always seems to imply that something has gone wrong with creation; the failure of humans to truly be ‘icons of God’ results in the corruption of all of God’s good creation (disobedience, murder, widespread depravity (flood), arrogance (Babel) The creation story suggests that we were meant to function in particular ways, with worship of the one true God as its center. Instead, we find ourselves either ‘wandering off’ or defiantly ‘marching off’ to attempt to find life where it cannot be found: the result? Death (the antithesis of all of God’s good purposes). ● So, the call to Abram is something of a ‘turning point’ in the story; a response to the widespread decay and corruption of God’s good creation caused by the rebellion of man. Abram is, in a sense, seen as God’s answer to the problem of Adam. ● Out of the confusion and arrogance of Babel, God calls Abram and Sarai to give birth to a special people. This new people would be called upon to live counter-culturally in a “many-godded” society. Somehow, through them, God would bring about the ‘shalom’ that he intended from the beginning. ● A covenant story suggests: - Creation was not a failed experiment. Although corrupted and blemished, it was worth rescuing. - God’s good purposes for his creation cannot be thwarted; they are never in jeopardy, even in the context of human volition. We would refer to this as “sovereignty”, which includes the quality of God most often celebrated throughout the story: his ‘righteousness’. - God has chosen to deal with the problems of creation through creation; namely, by calling into being a people who would carry out the rescue mission within the context of their unique identity: ‘chosen’. ● Their ‘chosenness’ would be directly related to their sense of ‘mission’. Any time their sense of election and mission were separated, they either found themselves so much like the culture (absorbed) as to be virtually ‘indistinguishable, or so far removed from their culture as to be ‘ineffective’. ● In ancient settings, a covenant was a means of establishing and outlining the relationship between a King and his people. When a conquering nation would occupy a territory, they would be presented with a Suzerain (soo-zer-en)-Vassal agreement (Lord-Servant). God’s covenant is to be a permanent: Gen.17:7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendents after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendents after you”. In Hosea he speaks of the covenant in terms of a husband and wife: ‘I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion” (2:19). God said that he will engrave Israel on the palm of his hands (Isaiah 49:16). His faithfulness will be as dependable as the shining sun, moon and stars (Jeremiah 31:35-36). Abe’s bio… Abraham was a semi-nomadic shepherd to whom God revealed himself and entered into covenant concerning the nature of Abraham's descendents and the future he had planned for them. Abraham's willingness to trust these promises and risk venturing out into “relative-uncertainty” would frame the very faith through which all of humanity could become part of God’s family: “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” (Romans 4:3). Ultimately, we saw those covenant promises find their fulfillment in Jesus the Messiah, and all those who trust him for ‘life’ become, in a sense, Abraham's children. ● Look at the several promises that the Lord makes to Abraham: Great nation- Israel and eventually all those not part of ‘ethnic’ Israel, but part of the family by faith. Personal blessing/notoriety- favor, descendents, and significant personal wealth. All three major monotheistic religions see him as a major figure (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). Land- strip of ground known as Israel, but eventually the ‘whole earth’. Universal blessing- Jesus, the Messiah, would one day come from his line. ►Commitment always creates an atmosphere of security. It’s what’s missing from most relationships we develop. Imagine the sense of belonging and rest that such a commitment would create. Remember, Israel had spent significant time in Egypt, exposed to gods who created for the sole purpose of being served; that the Gods were somehow dependent upon us. The covenant story that Israel was being told by Moses suggested that God would provide for them; that although he himself has no needs, he gladly and freely makes available all that is his in order to sustain us. In mythology, creation was always attempting to get the attention of the gods; the covenant story says that God is trying to get ours! Admittedly, the commitment is only as good as the one making it; their history of trustworthiness. Often when we make promises, we ‘swear by’ (involve) someone/something greater than ourselves in order to legitimize our claims; typically because our word/promises have not been good in the past! God says, in Hebrews 6, that since he has no one greater to swear by, he makes the promise based on his own dependability. The atmosphere that such a promise is meant to evoke is one of ‘security’ (“…. we have this anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” ). ►Covenant fulfillment is always dependent upon God, not man. The covenant that God made with Abram included God, a people, an inheritance, and a universal blessing (‘shalom’). The covenant has been described as ‘unconditional’, meaning that the promises made by God, with a view toward restoring his creation, will be fulfilled despite man’s failure to faithfully live under the agreement. Even if Israel, as God’s covenant people, were to fail in their mission as ‘image-bearers’, God would act to ensure the fulfillment of his good purposes. Remember, we have ‘history’ with God. Jesus has already addressed this dilemma! “All the nations (peoples/cultures) of the earth will be blessed through you”. Genesis 12:3 Somehow, Abe and his family will be the means through which God will address the issue of sin and start the process of setting the world right. ● In Hebrew, to make a covenant is literally to ‘cut a covenant’; sometimes validated by cutting an animal in 2 parts. The shedding of blood sealed the covenant (Gen.15:9; Jer.34:18-20). If one of the parties attempted to break the covenant, the blood served as a visible reminder that one’s own blood would be shed. It was a serious and binding oath and it was irrevocable. ● By passing through the parts without Abram, God was somehow indicating that the fulfillment of the covenant was based purely upon God's grace, in spite of how often Abram or his descendants may fail. Even though the fulfillment of the promises was ‘unconditional’, experience/enjoyment of the promise (‘blessing’) would be determined by obedience. Once Abraham obeyed (responded in faith), the fulfillment of the promise did not depend on Abraham's continued obedience, but on the character of our LORD. ►God’s restorative purposes are always self-initiated and, therefore, are rooted in grace! (God’s movement toward us and God’s movement within us). “Which one of the commandments do you think became most helpful to Abram in determining his decision to leave and follow God?” I think it’s extremely significant that the story gives us Abram before the Law; because our lives were meant to be characterized by courageous trust in God, not as a reward for good behavior (otherwise, Paul says, you’re simply getting your ‘paycheck’; what you’ve earned. Romans ● Many times we come to the story with a misguided premise to direct us: that the OT is all about Law and rules; the NT introduces us to ‘grace’. But, the Law was never meant to be a system of obedience which would ensure one’s place in God’s family; it was a ‘covenant charter’ meant to confirm the promises and outline a way of life which would help Israel maintain her unique identity despite her circumstances or surroundings.
It was a means by which
God’s covenant people could demonstrate to the world what it was like to be in
right relationship with God, each other and the rest of creation: to be truly
“human”: shalom. |
