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THE PRECAUTIONS OF THE COVENANT
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
Deuteronomy 29:16-29

Galatians 4:4-6

 

“To redeem them that were
under the law, that we might

receive the adoption of sons.”

 

THE PRECAUTIONS OF THE COVENANT
 
The covenant that the Lord made with Israel was all inclusive. He promised to establish them as a people unto Himself. This was in line with the covenant that He had earlier made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob went to Egypt as a family of less than a hundred people. Their sojourn in Egypt was for four hundred years and when they left Egypt they were a multitude that covered the face of the earth. In the original covenant, the Lord had told Abraham that He would bless them that blessed him. The promise to include those who favoured Israel in the covenant shows that all must show goodwill towards God’s chosen people. As children of Abraham by faith today, we are also included in the eternal covenant which is fulfilled in Jesus.
 
The hearts of Israel should not be turned to the idols that they had seen. The religion of Egypt and that of the Canaanites was idolatry. When Moses was called to lead Israel out of Egypt, he introduced them to the true God and true worship. When the Law was given, the worship of idols was expressly forbidden. Those who would transgress with impunity would face the wrath of God. Moses saw and knew of the possibility of such turning away from the Lord to follow idols. In the wilderness, it was Aaron, his second-in-command that led Israel in making an idol. As such, none is immune to the temptation to follow the ways of the majority.
 
However, Israel as the chosen people of God was to be cautious to serve the Lord faithfully. All the curses that were written in the book of the Law would come upon them and their names would be blotted out from under heaven. This means that they would die and cease to exist on earth. Their punishment was compared with that of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim. This was a reference to the account in Genesis 19 in which the Lord sent rain of fire and brimstone that destroyed those cities into ashes. Every living thing in those cities was destroyed.
 
THOUGHT: There is need for extra caution to keep a covenant.

PRAYER: Father, grant me faith to keep Thy covenants.

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