THE COVENANT

Exodus 34:12,14,30

“Be very careful never to make a treaty with the people who live in the land where you are going. If you do, you will follow their evil ways and be trapped.

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.

To have a walk with God, you have to be committed to it, you are either with Him or you are not.

God made it clear to the children of Israel that if they would serve Him, then they had no business with any idol.

They became God's people by reason of birth, the initial covenant was with Abraham through whom God initiated the covenant and the faithfulness was required through the lineage, that is Issac, Jacob and the twelve sons rising to the people who had multiplied through the times.

So when we say Israel, it is not a person but a people, if anyone decided to rebel and is cut off, it is just one out of a people. Remember what God said to Moses when the people were rebellious:

Exodus 32:9-10

Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are.

Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”

If all of them were whipped out, God could raise another people!

When we look at this as believers we will be careful in our entitlement mentality, to feel that God cannot do without us, or that if we are out of the picture, God's purpose would not be fulfilled is a wrong assumption!

Listen to what Jesus said:

Matthew 3:9

Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

See, God created the heaven and the earth, He has all things in His hands, He is not the one who needs us, we are the one who needs Him. Thus He is saying: "you are either for me or you are not". Don't play around.

Listen again:

Revelation 3:15-16

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

He is the king that does not share His loyalty with anyone. We must understand this to be able to worship Him.

God had made His covenant with the children of Israel and they all agreed to it, but they had yet to leave the very place of the covenant before the molded an idol and began to worship it, what insolence!

Exodus 24:3

Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the lord had given him. All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”

Exodus 32:6-8

The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.

The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.

How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

No wonder none of them made it into the promise land!

Let us be guided for these events could be very well related to us. The Israelites journey through the wilderness could be our journey through earth, while their entry to the promise land could be our entry into heaven.

How quickly do we leave His presence to return to sin or idols. We run from one program to another, yet we still leave that sinful or hateful life. We cannot keep making the same mistakes they made and get away with it. We need to STOP!

Every believer by default enters a covenant when they are saved. This covenant is different from the old covenant which the children of Israel made, this one is not physical but spiritual.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.

This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

This covenant was what was initiated when Christ came to the world, sealed by His death and resurrection!

The new covenant was for all people!

A spiritual Israel!

This covenant was established in Christ Jesus:

Luke 1:67-70,72,76

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people.

He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David, just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago.

He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant—

“And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

Hebrews 12:24

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Brethren it is time to be serious with God, understand that you have a covenant, renounce every other covenant, remember what He told the children of Israel:

Exodus 34:14

You must worship no other gods, for the lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

Our covenant is with the Heavenly Father, who else is greater? None, don't be deceived. Stay faithful, stay true, walk in obedience.

Titus 2:11-13

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,

while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed

Glory to God who shows us His love, mercy and favours.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.