Covenant
By Mike Rule

There is a belief that God completely changed the rules when Jesus came. We are often of the opinion that God demanded people live to the law, but saw it was not working so He initiated grace. We subtly believe that Jesus was plan "B".

Ancient Hebrew agreements were solidified through a covenant, or more accurately through "cutting" a covenant. A covenant was commonly understood to be an agreement between a higher and lesser power. It was carried out in the following manner. Several animals were to be cut in half with each half lying on the opposite sides of a small "V" shaped ravine. As these animal halves bled out, the blood would flow to the center of the ravine and collect there. Once everything was set up, the leaders of both parties would walk through the blood allowing it to splash up onto their feet and garments. There were no words spoken, but it was understood that this walking through the blood meant, "If I do not keep my part of the agreement we have made, this is what you may do to me. It's my blood if I don't keep my word to you."

In Genesis 15:8-18 God makes a promise to Abraham, and he believes God. The agreement between God and Abraham was that God would do a mighty work through Abraham. Abraham's part of the bargain is simply believe and receive. This is what was counted to Him as righteousness. (Galatians 3:6) At that point, God tells Abraham to get the animals. God never told him what to do with them because it was not necessary. Abraham knows exactly what God desires simply by the animals which he was directed to get. Once everything is set up, notice that Abraham does nothing more. He chases the birds away so that things are left intact, then waits on God. Abraham is scared because if he sets one toe in that blood he is a dead man. He knows he will never be able to uphold his end of the bargain with God. At this point Abraham falls into a deep dread and a deep sleep, then God comes and passes through the flesh and through the blood and very symbolically says to Abraham, "If either of us ever breaks our part of this agreement, I'll pay the price. I'll pay for it in my blood. This covenant is complete."

From the time of Adam innocent blood was shed as a way of dealing with our sin. We have been led to believe that the blood was a covering for sin until God came up with a way to deal with sin once and for all. Look again at the story in Genesis 3. While the text is not clear that the Lord killed to provide the skins, the common understanding of this text leads us to believe that. However, because we are often making the text say things it actually does not, we can come to the wrong conclusions. The innocent blood--the animal blood--was not shed to cover sin; it was done to provide a way to deal with the result of their sin. As we have misunderstood the significance of this in Genesis, we have also misunderstood much of the ancient Hebrew law and sacrificial system. While it is true that the blood of goats and bulls was shed for sin, at the deepest level it was done as a reminder to God of His promise: "Remember Lord, You promised us You would pay for our sin with Your blood." Therefore sacrifices were a reminder to God from His children. We see this demonstrated as God reveals His purpose for the rainbow after the flood. God said, "It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant…." (Genesis 9:14& 15a) The rainbow reminded us that it was a reminder for God.

It is interesting to note how we wrongly say that the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant because the new is based in the blood of Christ rather than that of goats and lambs. However, when we understand what God was really saying to Abraham, as well as His purpose in the Old Testament sacrificial system, we have to see that both covenants are based in Christ alone. Jesus has ALWAYS been plan "A." The old sacrificial system was simply a way of taking God at His word. This was the choice God gave man in the beginning when He set Life (the tree of life) and Death (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) before us. This is demonstrated in great detail throughout Leviticus as God sets forth His holiness commands. Every commandment was given for the purpose of separating life and death. "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life…." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a) "The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ." (Galatians 3:24)

With this background, if you look at what Jesus said to His disciples in the upper room, the last supper has a entirely new meaning for us. "Do this as often as you will in remembrance of Me." (Luke 22:19&20) We have a new and living covenant in His blood. As He hung on the cross and said, "It is finished," we know that He meant the covenant is now completed; the promise is fulfilled. We truly have something to celebrate because our God keeps His promises. His blood has paid it all for us. It IS finished. Paid in full. The next time you partake of communion, don't allow the enemy to put your focus on how sinful and how wicked you are. Remember that you have something to celebrate! God keeps His promises!